The association of food insecurity on body mass index change in a pediatric weight management intervention.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a critical public health concern. One potential determinant to obesity that is less understood is food insecurity. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of food security status on body mass index (BMI) change in a Pediatric Weight Management Intervention (PWMI) consistent with national treatment recommendations. METHODS: This analysis included 201 participants from the Healthy Weight Clinic (HWC). Using linear mixed models, we compared BMI and %BMIp95 change per year between the food insecure group and food secure group, adjusting for baseline BMI, age and sex, and SNAP enrolment. RESULTS: In fully adjusted models, children in households with food insecurity had a 0.50 (0.26-0.74) kg/m2 BMI increase per year and a 2.10 (1.02-3.19) %BMIp95 increase per year compared to households that were food secure. CONCLUSIONS: When comparing the BMI effect of the HWC between the food insecure group and food secure group, those experiencing food insecurity in the HWC had an increase in BMI compared to those with food security. These findings suggest that food insecurity may reduce the effectiveness of PWMIs consistent with national recommendations; however, more studies should be conducted to better understand this relationship.

Plant-Based Family Food Packages and Weight Change in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Food insecurity and obesity coexist among children and families. We examined the association between receipt of plant-based family food packages from the Massachusetts General Hospital Revere Food Pantry and change in body mass index (BMI), adjusted for age and sex, among children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among 35 children aged 2 to 18 years who received the packages between January 2021 and February 2022, we observed a change in BMI of -0.04 kg/m2 (95% CI, -0.08 kg/m2 to -0.01 kg/m2) for each package received. Our results suggest plant-based food packages might mitigate, and potentially reverse, BMI increase in children in households seeking food assistance.

Household food insecurity is associated with obesogenic health behaviours among a low-income cohort of pregnant women in Boston, MA.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of household food insecurity with health and obesogenic behaviours among pregnant women enrolled in an obesity prevention programme in the greater Boston area. DESIGN: Cross-sectional evaluation. Data were collected from structured questionnaires that included a validated two-item screener to assess household food insecurity. We used separate multivariable linear and logistic regression models to quantify the association between household food insecurity and maternal health behaviours (daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food, physical activity, screen time, and sleep), mental health outcomes (depression and stress), hyperglycaemia status and gestational weight gain. SETTING: Three community health centres that primarily serve low-income and racial/ethnic minority patients in Revere, Chelsea and Dorchester, Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: Totally, 858 pregnant women participating in the First 1,000 Days program, a quasi-experimental trial. RESULTS: Approximately 21 % of women reported household food insecurity. In adjusted analysis, household food insecurity was associated with low fruit and vegetable intake (ß = -0·31 daily servings; 95 % CI -0·52, -0·10), more screen time (ß = 0·32 daily hours; 95 % CI 0·04, 0·61), less sleep (ß = -0·32 daily hours; 95 % CI -0·63, -0·01), and greater odds of current (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4·42; 95 % CI 2·33, 8·35) or past depression (AOR 3·01; 95 % CI 2·08, 4·35), and high stress (AOR 2·91; 95 % CI 1·98, 4·28). CONCLUSIONS: In our sample of mostly low-income, racial/ethnic minority pregnant women, household food insecurity was associated with mental health and behaviours known to increase the likelihood of obesity.

Keys to Achieving Clinically Important Weight Loss: Perceptions of Responders and Nonresponders in the Clinic and Community Approaches to Healthy Weight Trial.

Background: Despite modest mean body mass index (BMI) improvements in pediatric weight management interventions (PWMIs), some children are more and less successful in achieving a healthier weight. We sought to understand key behavior modifications and strategies used to overcome barriers that led to success or nonresponse. Methods: Using a semistructured guide, we conducted interviews in English and Spanish to explore the perspectives of caregivers whose children responded (BMI z-score change of greater than or equal to -0.2 units over 1 year) or did not respond (≥5% increase in % of the 95th percentile for BMI over 1 year) to a PWMI. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then coded using the framework approach. Researchers met regularly to review coding, content, and emerging themes. Results: We reached thematic saturation after interviewing the caregivers of 14 responders and 16 nonresponders and identified 7 themes as key elements of a positive response: (1) positive parenting approach; (2) application and practice of new information; (3) higher agency for change; (4) management of unmet social needs through creative solutions; (5) promoting mindful eating; (6) family alignment on health behaviors; and (7) mitigation of weight stigma. Conclusion: The effectiveness of PWMI may be enhanced by incorporating curricular elements that specifically promote the approaches identified among responders in this study. Similarly, lessons can be learned from nonresponders, so clinicians can identify and help early on when behaviors associated with nonresponse are seen. Clinical Trial Registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03012126.

Implementation Evaluation of HUGS/Abrazos During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Program to Foster Resiliency in Pregnancy and Early Childhood.

Early life adversity can significantly impact child development and health outcomes throughout the life course. With the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating preexisting and introducing new sources of toxic stress, social programs that foster resilience are more necessary now than ever. The Helping Us Grow Stronger (HUGS/Abrazos) program fills a crucial need for protective buffers during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has escalated toxic stressors affecting pregnant women and families with young children. HUGS/Abrazos combines patient navigation, behavioral health support, and innovative tools to ameliorate these heightened toxic stressors. We used a mixed-methods approach, guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, to evaluate the implementation of the HUGS/Abrazos program at Massachusetts General Hospital from 6/30/2020-8/31/2021. Results of the quality improvement evaluation revealed that the program was widely adopted across the hospital and 392 unique families were referred to the program. The referred patients were representative of the communities in Massachusetts disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, 79% of referred patients followed up with the initial referral, with sustained high participation rates throughout the program course; and they were provided with an average of four community resource referrals. Adoption and implementation of the key components in HUGS/Abrazos were found to be appropriate and acceptable. Furthermore, the implemented program remained consistent to the original design. Overall, HUGS/Abrazos was well adopted as an emergency relief program with strong post-COVID-19 applicability to ameliorate continuing toxic stressors while decreasing burden on the health system.

Associations of sleep-related behaviors and the sleep environment at infant age one month with sleep patterns in infants five months later.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize family and environmental correlates of sleep patterns that may contribute to differences in infant sleep. METHODS: We studied 313 infants in the Rise & SHINE (Sleep Health in Infancy & Early Childhood study) cohort. Our main exposures were the parent-reported sleep environment, feeding method and sleep parenting strategies at infant age one month. The main outcomes were nighttime sleep duration, longest nighttime sleep and number of awakenings measured by actigraphy at age six months. We used multivariable linear regression models to examine associations, and secondarily also explored the role of sleep-related environmental exposures in mediating previously observed associations of racial/ethnicity and parental education with infant sleep characteristics. RESULTS: In adjusted models, a non-dark sleep environment (versus an always dark sleep location) and taking the baby to parent's bed when awake at night (versus no co-sleeping) were associated with 28 (95% CI, -45, -11) and 18 (95% CI, -33, -4) minutes less sleep at night, respectively. Bottle feeding at bedtime was associated with 62 (95% CI, 21, 103) minutes additional longest nighttime sleep period. Exploratory mediation analyses suggested a modest mediating role of a non-dark sleep environment on racial/ethnic and educational differences in sleep duration. CONCLUSIONS: Infant sleep duration was positively associated with a dark sleep environment and a focal feed at bedtime while taking the baby to the parent's bed was associated with reduced infant sleep. Modifying the sleep environment and practices may improve infant sleep and reduce sleep health disparities.

Spontaneous Smoking Cessation in Parents.

PURPOSE: To determine the percentage of parents who report quitting spontaneously and examine the factors associated with these quits. METHODS: As part of a cluster randomized control trial addressing parental smoking in a pediatric outpatient setting, 12-month follow-up survey data were collected from parents who had self-identified as smokers when exiting from 10 control practices. Parents were considered to have made a spontaneous quit if they reported not smoking a cigarette, even a puff, in the last 7 days and chose the statement "I did not plan the quit in advance; I just did it" when describing how their quit attempt started. RESULTS: Of the 981 smoking parents enrolled at baseline, 710 (72%) completed the 12-month follow-up. Of these, 123 (17%) reported quitting, of whom 50 (41%) reported quitting spontaneously. In multivariable analysis, parents who reported smoking on some days vs. every day (OR 3.06 (95% CI 1.42, 6.62)) and that nobody had smoked in their home/car vs. someone had smoked in these settings in the past 3 months (OR 2.19 (95% CI 1.06, 4.54)) were more likely to quit spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that, of parents who quit smoking, a substantial percentage report quitting spontaneously and that intermittent smoking and smoke-free home/car policies are associated with reports of quitting spontaneously. Promoting smoke-free home/car policies, especially when parents are not willing to make a plan to quit smoking, might increase the likelihood that parents decide to quit without advance planning. Pediatric healthcare providers are uniquely positioned to use the child's visit to motivate parents to quit smoking and eliminate their child's exposure to tobacco smoke, regardless of the frequency of smoking or a readiness to plan a quit attempt. Clinical Trial Registration. This trial is registered with NCT01882348.

Twelve-Month Outcomes of the First 1000 Days Program on Infant Weight Status.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of the First 1000 Days intervention on the prevalence of infant overweight and maternal postpartum weight retention and care. METHODS: Using a quasi-experimental design, we evaluated the effects of the First 1000 Days program among 995 term, low-income infants and their mothers receiving care in 2 intervention community health centers and 650 dyads in 2 comparison health centers. The program includes staff training, growth tracking, health and behavioral screening, patient navigation, text messaging, educational materials, and health coaching. Comparison centers implemented usual care. Infant outcomes were assessed at 6 and 12 months, including weight-for-length z score and overweight (weight for length ≥97.7th percentile). We also examined maternal weight retention and receipt of care 6 weeks' post partum. RESULTS: The mean birth weight was 3.34 kg (SD 0.45); 57% of infants were Hispanic; 66% were publicly insured. At 6 months, infants had lower weight-for-length z scores (ß: -.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -.39 to -.15) and lower odds of overweight (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.76) than infants in comparison sites; differences persisted at 12 months (z score ß: -.18; 95% CI: -.30 to -.07; adjusted OR for overweight: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.92). Mothers in the intervention sites had modestly lower, but nonsignificant, weight retention at 6 weeks' post partum (ß: -.51 kg; 95% CI: -1.15 to .13) and had higher odds (adjusted OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.94) of completing their postpartum visit compared with mothers in the comparison sites. CONCLUSIONS: An early-life systems-change intervention combined with coaching was associated with improved infant weight status and maternal postpartum care.