Childhood obesity prevention in the women, infants, and children program: Outcomes of the MA-CORD study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the extent to which a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) intervention improved BMI z scores and obesity-related behaviors among children age 2 to 4 years.

Methods

In two Massachusetts communities, practice changes in WIC were implemented as part of the Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (MA-CORD) initiative to prevent obesity among low-income children. One WIC program was the comparison. Changes in BMI z scores pre and post intervention and prevalence of obesity-related behaviors of WIC participants were assessed. Linear mixed models were used to examine BMI z score change, and logistic regression models were used to examine changes in obesity-related behaviors in each intervention site versus comparison over 2 years.

Results

WIC-enrolled children in both intervention sites (vs. comparison) had improved sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and sleep duration. Compared to the comparison WIC program (n?=?626), no differences were observed in BMI z score among children in Intervention Site #1 (n?=?198) or #2 (n?=?637). In sensitivity analyses excluding Asian children, a small decline was observed in BMI z score (-0.08 units/y [95% confidence interval: -0.14 to -0.02], P?=?0.01) in Intervention Site #2 versus comparison.

Conclusions

Among children enrolled in WIC, the MA-CORD intervention was associated with reduced prevalence of obesity risk factors in both intervention communities and a small improvement in BMI z scores in one of two intervention communities in non-Asian children.

SUBMITTER: Woo Baidal JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5600510 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature