Using Facebook in a Healthy Lifestyle Intervention: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot quasi-experimental study was to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of using Facebook in a 10-week lifestyle intervention with Head Start caregiver-preschooler dyads to improve healthy behaviors and reduce body mass index. Sixty-nine dyads participated with 39 in the intervention group. Average preschooler attendance rate for the Head Start center-based program was 77%, and caregiver participation rate was 87%. About 94% of the caregivers were satisfied with the program, and 97% would recommend the program to others and/or participate again. The intervention decreased preschoolers' body mass index z score (Cohen's d = -.30) and screen time ( d = -.21), and increased their fruit and vegetable intake ( d = .40) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity ( d = .42). The intervention increased caregivers' fruit and vegetable intake ( d = .40). The intervention is feasible, and preliminary efficacy is encouraging, but further investigation using a rigorous study design is warranted.

Childhood Obesity Evidence Base Project: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of a New Taxonomy of Intervention Components to Improve Weight Status in Children 2–5 Years of Age, 2005–2019

“…Most of the included studies (88%) used a randomized controlled trial design with random assignment of groups (49%) or individuals (39%); six studies used a quasi-experimental design. 52,[54][55][56][57][58] Study samples were recruited from child care centers or preschools (55%), clinical practices (22%), community , with an average retention rate of 80% (SD = 0.18) across the studies. The study samples included, on average, 50% (SD = 0.27; range = 20%-100%) of children meeting criteria for overweight or obesity.…”

Parental Perceived Facilitators for and Barriers to Participating in a Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Early Childhood Obesity: A Qualitative Evaluation

“…The intervention included (a) a daily center-based preschooler program that involved fun games (b) weekly preschooler letters to parents, (c) monthly face-to-face parent meetings to connect parents to each other, and (d) a weekly Facebook-based parent program, including health information, behavior change tips, and motivational communication to foster peer support. This intervention is covered in detail elsewhere (Ling et al, 2018). Phenomenography is a qualitative research method used to study individuals’ subjective experiences and perceptions of different phenomena (Barnard, McCosker, & Gerber, 1999; Marton, 1986).…”

“…In the primary study, 69 parents were recruited from two urban Head Start centers (Ling et al, 2018). A recruitment packet, including a consent form, a study flyer, and a screening tool, was delivered to each parent having a Head Start preschooler aged 3 to 5 years old via classroom teachers.…”

“…Each individual interview lasted approximately 20 to 60 minutes, with an average of 30 minutes. Parents completed an online demographic survey via Qualtrics to assess their demographic characteristics, and their height and weight were measured to assess their weight status (Ling et al, 2018).…”

“…In response to the limited literature about factors influencing participation by low-income families in lifestyle interventions, this study aimed to examine Head Start mothers’ perceived facilitators for and barriers to participating in a 10-week lifestyle intervention, which had 87% participation rate of mothers (Ling et al, 2018). The primary two-group, quasi-experimental study with 69 parent-preschooler dyads aimed to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the intervention on both preschoolers’ and their parents’ behavioral and anthropometric outcomes (Ling et al, 2018). Given our interest to explore the variety of factors that facilitate and prevent parents’ participation in lifestyle interventions, we chose to draw on the socio-ecological model that is used extensively in health promotion studies (Kim et al, 2012; Mcleroy, Bibeau, Steckler, & Glanz, 1988).…”