Effectiveness of a telephone-based randomised clinical trial targeting obesity risk of preschool-aged children: An extension study during the COVID-19 pandemic
Primary result · Mean BMIResult — go to the resultDifference −0.30 95% CI −0.59 to −0.01Authors' conclusion
The two-year telephone-based intervention was associated with decreased mean BMI of preschool-aged children. Telephone-based support for mothers could reduce obesity risk in preschool-aged children, particularly among low-income families.
Study context
- Population
- Mother-child dyads, children aged 2–3 years at enrolment in 2019–20, Greater Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia
- Participants
- 662 mother-child dyads
- Comparison
- Telephone-based intervention vs control
- Primary endpoint
- Children's body mass index (BMI), weight and height measured
- Follow-up
- Ages 3, 4, and 5 years
Methodological detailstelephone-based intervention, intention-to-treat analysis with multiple imputation, mixed linear models, subgroup analysis by household income, Extended 2020-22: one-year intervention (3-4 years) and one-year follow-up (4-5 years); same group allocation as original trial
- Telephone-based intervention
- Intention-to-treat analysis with multiple imputation
- Mixed linear models
- Subgroup analysis by household income
- Extended 2020-22: one-year intervention (3-4 years) and one-year follow-up (4-5 years); same group allocation as original trial
Primary result
Mean BMI
Difference
−0.30
95% CI −0.59 to −0.01
P = 0.039
By group
Intervention
15.90
mean · SE 0.08
Control
16.20
mean · SE 0.08
Interventionvs Control
difference −0.30 (95% CI −0.59 to −0.01); P = 0.039
As reported in the abstract
Further findings
| Outcome | Difference (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean BMI, low-income families | −0.57 (−1.05 to −0.10) | P = 0.018 | |
| −1.5−1−0.500.5Difference (linear scale) |
Completed assessments · child ages 3, 4, and 5 years
- Completed at age 3 years
- 537 (81%)
- Completed at age 4 years
- 491 (74%)
- Completed at age 5 years
- 405 (61%)
Original publication
Effectiveness of a telephone-based randomised clinical trial targeting obesity risk of preschool-aged children: An extension study during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 14 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →