Archived Comments for:
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
Not the first family meals-focused intervention to be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial
Richard Rosenkranz, Kansas State University
24 June 2015
I congratulate Flattum and colleagues (2015) on their successful completion of the HOME Plus study, and believe that much more research is needed to understand the potential contribution of family meals to the home food environment, and to the health and well-being of children and adults in developed countries. In particular, studies that experimentally evaluate the impact of family meals are needed to extend the more abundant observational research (Valdés et al, 2013).
I would like to point out, however, that there is at least one RCT that previously attempted to manipulate the family meals variable to determine the impact on various health-related outcomes. The Healthier Troops in a SNAP study (Rosenkranz, Behrens, & Dzewaltowski, 2010) used a cluster-RCT design to evaluate the impact of a Girl-Scouts-based intervention designed to improve the quality and frequency of family meals (along with troop meeting environment changes) among girl scouts and their families.
Future researchers are therefore encouraged to consider the work of Rosenkranz et al (2010) along with the HOME Plus study and any relevant quasi-experimental studies (e.g., Johnson et al, 2006; Rosenkranz & Dzewaltowski, 2009) as they seek to understand the potential of family meals to contribute to health.
References:
Flattum, C., Draxten, M., Horning, M., Fulkerson, J. A., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Garwick, A., ... & Story, M. (2015). 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. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 12(1), 53.
Johnson, D. B., Birkett, D., Evens, C., & Pickering, S. (2006). Promoting family meals in WIC: lessons learned from a statewide initiative. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 38(3), 177-182.
Rosenkranz, R. R., & Dzewaltowski, D. A. (2009). Promoting better family meals for girls attending summer programs. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 41(1), 65-67.
Rosenkranz, R. R., Behrens, T. K., & Dzewaltowski, D. A. (2010). A group-randomized controlled trial for health promotion in Girl Scouts: healthier troops in a SNAP (Scouting Nutrition & Activity Program). BMC Public Health, 10(1), 81.
Valdés, J., Rodríguez‐Artalejo, F., Aguilar, L., Jaén‐Casquero, M. B., & Royo‐Bordonada, M. Á. (2013). Frequency of family meals and childhood overweight: a systematic review. Pediatric obesity, 8(1), e1-e13.
Not the first family meals-focused intervention to be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial
24 June 2015
I congratulate Flattum and colleagues (2015) on their successful completion of the HOME Plus study, and believe that much more research is needed to understand the potential contribution of family meals to the home food environment, and to the health and well-being of children and adults in developed countries. In particular, studies that experimentally evaluate the impact of family meals are needed to extend the more abundant observational research (Valdés et al, 2013).
I would like to point out, however, that there is at least one RCT that previously attempted to manipulate the family meals variable to determine the impact on various health-related outcomes. The Healthier Troops in a SNAP study (Rosenkranz, Behrens, & Dzewaltowski, 2010) used a cluster-RCT design to evaluate the impact of a Girl-Scouts-based intervention designed to improve the quality and frequency of family meals (along with troop meeting environment changes) among girl scouts and their families.
Future researchers are therefore encouraged to consider the work of Rosenkranz et al (2010) along with the HOME Plus study and any relevant quasi-experimental studies (e.g., Johnson et al, 2006; Rosenkranz & Dzewaltowski, 2009) as they seek to understand the potential of family meals to contribute to health.
References:
Flattum, C., Draxten, M., Horning, M., Fulkerson, J. A., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Garwick, A., ... & Story, M. (2015). 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. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 12(1), 53.
Johnson, D. B., Birkett, D., Evens, C., & Pickering, S. (2006). Promoting family meals in WIC: lessons learned from a statewide initiative. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 38(3), 177-182.
Rosenkranz, R. R., & Dzewaltowski, D. A. (2009). Promoting better family meals for girls attending summer programs. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 41(1), 65-67.
Rosenkranz, R. R., Behrens, T. K., & Dzewaltowski, D. A. (2010). A group-randomized controlled trial for health promotion in Girl Scouts: healthier troops in a SNAP (Scouting Nutrition & Activity Program). BMC Public Health, 10(1), 81.
Valdés, J., Rodríguez‐Artalejo, F., Aguilar, L., Jaén‐Casquero, M. B., & Royo‐Bordonada, M. Á. (2013). Frequency of family meals and childhood overweight: a systematic review. Pediatric obesity, 8(1), e1-e13.
Competing interests
I have no competing interests.