The IDEFICS intervention trial to prevent childhood obesity: design and study methods. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pigeot, I.; Baranowski, T.; De Henauw, S.
• Other Names: De Henauw Stefaan guestEditor.; Baranowski Tom guestEditor.; Pigeot Iris guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Obesity reviews. Volume 16(2015)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 4
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Childhood obesity -- Europe -- evaluation -- primary prevention; Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.398005
• DOI: 10.1111/obr.12345
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1467-7881

Abstract

Summary: Introduction: One of the major research dimensions of the Identification and prevention of Dietary‐ and lifestyle‐induced health EFfects In Children and infantS (IDEFICS) study involved the development, implementation and evaluation of a setting‐based community‐oriented intervention programme for primary prevention of childhood obesity. In this supplement of Obesity Reviews, a compilation of key results of the IDEFICS intervention is packaged in a series of complementary papers. Objective: This paper describes the overall design and methods of the IDEFICS intervention in order to facilitate a comprehensive reading of the supplement. In addition, some 'best practice' examples are described. Results: The IDEFICS intervention trial was conducted to assess whether the IDEFICS intervention prevented obesity in young children aged 2 to 9.9 years. The study was a non‐randomized, quasi‐experimental trial with one intervention matched to one control region in each of eight participating countries. The intervention was designed following the intervention mapping framework, using a socio‐ecological theoretical approach. The intervention was designed to address several key obesity‐related behaviours in children, parents, schools and community actors; the primary outcome was the prevalence of overweight/obesity according to the IOTF criteria based on body mass index. The aim was to achieve a reduction of overweight/obesity prevalence in the intervention regions. The intervention was delivered in school and community settings over a 2‐year period. Data were collected in the intervention and control cohort regions at baseline and 2 years later. Conclusion: This paper offers an introductory framework for a comprehensive reading of this supplement on IDEFICS intervention key results.