Packaging and Disseminating the JOIN for ME Program in Low-Income Settings

Summary

One in five children in the United States have obesity, and under-served populations are differentially impacted by both obesity and its related health consequences. Thus, community-based programs that improve the dissemination of effective obesity treatments are needed within low income settings. The current study aims to test the effectiveness of an evidence-based, community centered program, JOIN for ME, in two types of community settings: housing authorities and patient-centered medical homes. Children between the ages of 6-12 years old and who meet study eligibility criteria will be enrolled in the study and participate in the JOIN for ME weight control intervention. Participants will be assigned to active or delayed treatment conditions (4-month delay) but all participants will receive the JOIN for ME program. The program will be delivered in English or Spanish. Primary outcomes include change in child and parent weight status and health-related quality of life.

Conditions

• Pediatric Obesity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

JOIN for ME

JOIN for ME is an empirically tested, effective weight management program for children ages 6-12 years.The curriculum includes 16 weekly in person sessions followed by 4 biweekly and 4 monthly maintenance sessions for a 10-month program. Weekly meetings are attended by the parent/caregiver and child, and occur at a location within their community setting (public housing or patient-centered medical home). Each session is 60 minutes and led by a certified Community Health Worker, with a private weigh-in for each dyad prior to the start of each session. Key behavioral targets include self-monitoring of dietary intake and physical activity, limiting LESS foods, limiting screen time, and weekly attendance. A family-based incentive structure is incorporated into the program such that parents/caregivers reinforce their children for achieving goals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person sessions will be conducted virtually until it is safe to resume in-person group sessions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Brown University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  collaborator OTHER

• Tufts University

  collaborator OTHER

• Brandeis University

  collaborator OTHER

• The Miriam Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Elissa Jelalian, PhD · The Miriam Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

6 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-01-25

Primary Completion

2024-09-10

Completion

2024-09-10

Countries

• United States

Study Locations