Family Meal Intervention for Cardiovascular Health
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: < 18
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Waitlist Available
Sponsor: University of Delaware
Disqualifiers: Internet access, Growth-impacting condition, others
No Placebo Group
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The primary purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of family meal frequency as an intervention target in addressing the primary prevention of CVD.
Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Family Meals for cardiovascular health?
Research suggests that having frequent family meals is linked to healthier eating habits and lower body weight in both children and adults, which can contribute to better heart health. Family meals are associated with eating more fruits and vegetables and fewer unhealthy foods, potentially reducing the risk of obesity and related heart issues.
12345Is participating in a family meal intervention generally safe for humans?
Research suggests that family meals are associated with positive health outcomes, such as better diet quality and lower obesity risk in children, indicating they are generally safe and beneficial.
12467How does the Family Meal Intervention treatment differ from other treatments for cardiovascular health?
The Family Meal Intervention is unique because it focuses on increasing the frequency and quality of shared meals at home, which is associated with better dietary patterns and weight management, especially in youth. Unlike traditional treatments that might involve medication or dietary supplements, this approach emphasizes the social and communal aspects of eating together as a family to improve cardiovascular health.
12489Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for parents aged 18 or older with a child between 6-12 years old who isn't obese. The parent must have at least two CVD risk factors like smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, being overweight, or diabetes. They need to speak English and have internet access.Inclusion Criteria
Parent is able to read, speak and understand English
My child is between 6-12 years old and has a healthy weight for their age and sex.
I am 18 years old or older.
+1 more
Exclusion Criteria
I live with my child less than 5 days a week.
Parents who report a medical condition that impacts growth or requires a specific eating plan for themselves or their child.
Parents who do not have access to the internet and/or are unable to attend intervention sessions
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Intervention
Participants engage in family meals with at least 5 dinners per week or consume recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables
6 months
Monthly check-ins
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in cardiovascular health indicators such as blood pressure, diet quality, and body mass index
4 months
Visits at Months 2, 6, 8, and 10
Participant Groups
The study is testing if having family meals together can help prevent heart disease (CVD). It compares the effects of standard dietary advice against the practice of sharing meals as a family on cardiovascular health.
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Family MealsExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Have at least 5 dinners per week.
Group II: StandardActive Control1 Intervention
Consume the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
University of Delaware, Energy Balance and Nutrition LaboratoryNewark, DE
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of DelawareLead Sponsor
National Institutes of Health (NIH)Collaborator
References
Family Meals and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Young Children. [2023]Family meals represent a novel strategy for improving cardiovascular health in youth. The purpose of this paper is to describe the association between family meals, dietary patterns, and weight status in youth.
HOME Plus: Program design and implementation of a family-focused, community-based intervention to promote the frequency and healthfulness of family meals, reduce children's sedentary behavior, and prevent obesity. [2018]Involvement in meal preparation and eating meals with one's family are associated with better dietary quality and healthy body weight for youth. Given the poor dietary quality of many youth, potential benefits of family meals for better nutritional intake and great variation in family meals, development and evaluation of interventions aimed at improving and increasing family meals are needed. This paper presents the design of key intervention components and process evaluation of a community-based program (Healthy Home Offerings via the Mealtime Environment (HOME) Plus) to prevent obesity.
The individual and combined influence of the "quality" and "quantity" of family meals on adult body mass index. [2021]Although there is a well-established literature showing a positive association between the frequency of family meals and child and adolescent healthful dietary intake and lower body mass index (BMI), little is known about the association between family meal frequency (quantity) and adult health outcomes and whether quality (distractions) of family meals influences adult BMI. This study investigates the association between the quantity and quality of family meals and adult BMI. Data were from a nationally representative sample of 4,885 adults ages 25 to 64 years (56% female), from which an analytic sample of 1,779 parents was drawn for the current study. Multiple linear regression was used to test the relationship between family meal frequency and quality of family meals and adult BMI, controlling for sociodemographics. Interactions between family meal quantity and quality were also examined. The quantity of family meals and the quality of family meals were both independently related to adult BMI. Specifically, the frequency of family meals was associated with lower adult BMI and lower quality of family meals was associated with higher adult BMI. The interaction between quantity and quality was not statistically significant. Results suggest that both the quantity and quality of family meals matter for adult BMI, but one is not dependent on the other. Health care providers who work with families may want to consider promoting the importance of the quality and quantity of family meals to benefit the entire family.
Diet and Health Benefits Associated with In-Home Eating and Sharing Meals at Home: A Systematic Review. [2021]In-home and shared meals have been hypothesized to have positive effects. This narrative review examines research on the influence of in-home eating on diet quality, health outcomes, and family relationships. A combination search approach included a search of PubMed, backward searches of previous published reviews, and studies the authors were familiar with. A search identified 118 publications; 54 original studies and 11 review studies were included in this review. Each study was reviewed and summarized. The diverse designs precluded quantitative data synthesis. Relatively strong evidence from cross-sectional research supports the association of shared family meals with favorable dietary patterns in children and adolescents, including consumption of fruits, vegetables, and healthful nutrients. Correlational evidence links shared meals with health and psychosocial outcomes in youth, including less obesity, decreased risk for eating disorders, and academic achievement. Most evidence is cross-sectional, thus, limiting attribution of causality. There is insufficient evidence to conclude that interventions improve the frequency of shared meals, improve diet, or prevent child obesity. Despite the "common wisdom", the evidence that in-home, shared meals, per se, have positive effects on diet quality, health outcomes, psychosocial outcomes, and family relationships is limited due to weak research designs and single-item measurement of the independent variable. More research, with stronger designs, is warranted.
Come and get it! A discussion of family mealtime literature and factors affecting obesity risk. [2023]The L.E.A.D. (Locate, Evaluate, and Assemble Evidence to Inform Decisions) framework of the Institute of Medicine guided the assembly of transdisciplinary evidence for this comprehensive, updated review of family meal research, conducted with the goal of informing continued work in this area. More frequent family meals are associated with greater consumption of healthy foods in children, adolescents, and adults. Adolescents and children who consume fewer family meals consume more unhealthy food. School-aged children and adolescents who consume more family meals have greater intakes of typically underconsumed nutrients. Increased family meal frequency may decrease risk of overweight or obesity in children and adolescents. Frequent family meals also may protect against eating disorders and negative health behaviors in adolescents and young adults. Psychosocial benefits include improved perceptions of family relationships. However, the benefits of having a family meal can be undermined if the family consumes fast food, watches television at the meal, or has a more chaotic atmosphere. Although these findings are intriguing, inconsistent research methodology and instrumentation and limited use of validation studies make comparisons between studies difficult. Future research should use consistent methodology, examine these associations across a wide range of ages, clarify the effects of the mealtime environment and feeding styles, and develop strategies to help families promote healthful mealtime habits.
Days Needed to Characterize the Healthfulness of a Typical Dinner Meal in Direct Observational Research: Mixed Methods Study. [2021]Prior research around the home meal environment has demonstrated that family meals are associated with positive health outcomes for children and adolescents. Researchers have begun using direct observational methods to understand key aspects of family meals such as meal healthfulness and family meal frequency to explain the protective nature of family meals. Direct observational research, however, can be resource intensive and also burdensome for participants. Information about the number of days needed to sufficiently characterize typical meal healthfulness using direct observational research methods is needed.
Quality matters: A meta-analysis on components of healthy family meals. [2020]A greater frequency of family meals is associated with better diet quality and lower body mass index (BMI) in children. However, the effect sizes are small, and it remains unclear which qualitative components of family meals contribute to these positive health outcomes. This meta-analysis synthesizes studies on social, environmental, and behavioral attributes of family meals and identifies components of family meals that are related to better nutritional health in children.
Promoting family meals: a review of existing interventions and opportunities for future research. [2022]Evidence suggests that regular family meals protect against unhealthy eating and obesity during childhood and adolescence. However, there is limited information on ways to promote family meals as part of health promotion and obesity prevention efforts. The primary aim of this review was to synthesize the literature on strategies to promote family meals among families with school-aged children and adolescents. First, we reviewed interventions that assess family meals as an outcome and summarized strategies that have been used in these interventions. Second, we reviewed correlates and barriers to family meals to identify focal populations and target constructs for consideration in new interventions. During May 26-27, 2014, PubMed and PsycInfo databases were searched to identify literature on family meals published between January 1, 2000 and May 27, 2014. Two reviewers coded 2,115 titles/abstracts, yielding a sample of 139 articles for full-text review. Six interventions and 43 other studies presenting data on correlates of or barriers to family meals were included in the review. Four interventions resulted in greater family meal frequency. Although there were a small number of interventions, intervention settings were diverse and included the home, community, medical settings, the workplace, and the Internet. Common strategies were goal setting and interactive group activities, and intervention targets included cooking and food preparation, cost, shopping, and adolescent influence. Although methodological nuances may contribute to mixed findings, key correlates of family meals were employment, socioeconomic and demographic factors, family structure, and psychosocial constructs. Barriers to consider in future interventions include time and scheduling challenges, cost, and food preferences. Increasing youth involvement in mealtime, tailoring interventions to family characteristics, and providing support for families experiencing time-related barriers are suggested strategies for future research.
Effect of meal environment on diet quality rating. [2009]Family meals have been associated with improved dietary quality in children and adolescents, and yet very little is known about family meals beyond their frequency. Specific aspects of the breakfast, lunch, and dinner meal environments were described and compared, and the associations with overall diet quality were investigated.