Trial reportInternational journal of obesity (2005)2025
Effectiveness of a telephone-based randomised clinical trial targeting obesity risk of preschool-aged children: An extension study during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trial report in International journal of obesity (2005), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Beyond BMI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of mHealth Interventions for Pediatric Obesity Management.Nutrients · 2026Pooled it
- Socioeconomic differences in the cost-effectiveness of a telephone-based intervention for obesity prevention in early childhood.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThere is a great need for determining the effectiveness of telephone-based early obesity interventions targeting preschool-aged children. This was particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic when most face-to-face health promotion programs were suspended. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a two-year telephone-based intervention on body mass index (BMI), eating habits, active play, and screen time behaviours among preschool-aged children.
methodsWe conducted an extension study to a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 662 mother-child dyads at ages 2-3 years in 2019-20 in the Greater Sydney metropolitan area of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. In 2020-22, we extended the RCT for another two years, with one-year intervention (3-4 years) and one-year follow-up (4-5 years). Participants remained in the same group allocation as the original trial. The intervention comprised five nurse-led telephone support calls and SMS plus mailed intervention booklets to mothers to promote the health behaviours of their children from ages 2 to 4 years. The primary outcome was children's BMI, with weight and height measured at ages 3, 4, and 5 years. We conducted intention-to-treat analysis with a multiple imputation approach. Mixed linear models were built to compare the outcomes between intervention and control groups. Sub-group analysis by household income was also conducted.
resultsOf the 662 mothers, 537 (81%), 491 (74%), and 405 (61%) completed the assessments when their children were 3, 4, and 5 years old. The intervention was significantly associated with a lower mean BMI: 15.90 (SE 0.08) vs. 16.20 (SE 0.08), difference -0.30 (95% CI: -0.59 to -0.01, P = 0.039). This association was stronger among low-income families, difference -0.57 (95% CI: -1.05 to -0.10, P = 0.018).
conclusionsThe two-year telephone-based intervention was associated with decreased mean BMI of preschool-aged children. Telephone-based support for mothers could reduce obesity risk in preschool-aged children, particularly among low-income families.
trial registrationThe original RCT is registered with the Australian Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12618001571268).
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.