Guelph Family Health Study: Full Study
GFHS
1 other identifier
interventional
900
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The overall objective of this research is to test, among families with children age 2-5 years, the immediate and longer-term impacts of a home-based intervention to improve household routines associated with reduced obesity risk. The investigators primary hypothesis is that, compared to control, children in the intervention group will have lower BMI following the 6-month intervention period and 18-month follow-up period. The secondary outcomes are change in children's % body fat, waist circumference and obesity-related behaviours: sleep, activity, sedentary behaviour, family meals, and dietary intake. Although child outcomes are the focus of this evaluation, changing household routines may also improve parent behaviour; thus, the investigators will assess change in parent behaviours and weight outcomes. This study will also assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention from a societal perspective.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable obesity
Started Jun 2017
Typical duration for not_applicable obesity
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
October 13, 2016
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
October 20, 2016
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
June 1, 2017
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
June 1, 2020
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
September 1, 2020
CompletedSeptember 20, 2018
September 1, 2018
3 years
October 13, 2016
September 18, 2018
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Child - change in BMI
Trained staff will use standard practices to measure child height to the nearest 0.1 cm with a Shorrboard stadiometer and child weight to the nearest 0.1 kg using a Seca scale. BMI will be the ratio of weight (kg) to the square of standing height (m).
Baseline, 6 Months and 18 Months
Secondary Outcomes (17)
Child - change in waist circumference
Baseline, 6 Months, 18 Months
Child - change in % body fat
Baseline, 6 Months, 18 Months
Child - change in sleep duration
Baseline, 6 Months, 18 Months
Child - change physical activity
Baseline, 6 Months, 18 Months
Child - change in sedentary behaviour
Baseline, 6 Months, 18 Months
- +12 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (2)
Control
ACTIVE COMPARATORFamilies randomized to control will receive monthly emails containing publicly available handouts on general child health.
Intervention - 4 Home Visits
EXPERIMENTALFamilies randomized to the intervention will receive: a) 4 home visits from a health educator, b) weekly e-mails, and c) monthly mailed behavioural supports.
Interventions
4 home visits from a health educator, weekly e-mails, and monthly mailed behavioural supports.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- families who have at least 1 child age 18 months - 5 years
- families who live in the Guelph area
- families who can respond to English surveys
You may not qualify if:
- plan to move away within the next year
- have children with severe health conditions (e.g., cerebral palsy) that prevent participation in study activities.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Univeristy of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
Related Publications (3)
Jacob R, Buchholz AC, Darlington G, Duncan AM, Vallis LA, Chaput JP, Annis A, Nixon M, Irwin JD, Morrow D, Ma DWL, Haines J. Impact of a Home-Based Obesity Prevention Intervention on Children's and Parents' BMI: Findings From the Guelph Family Health Study Randomised Controlled Trial. Pediatr Obes. 2026 Jan;21(1):e70062. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.70062. Epub 2025 Oct 22.
PMID: 41125536DERIVEDRibey SCS, Coyle-Asbil HJ, Osojnicki K, Coyle-Asbil B, Vallis LA, Darlington G, Duncan AM, Ma DWL, Haines J, Buchholz AC. Associations between objectively measured nighttime sleep duration, sleep timing, and sleep quality and body composition in toddlers in the Guelph Family Health Study. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2025 Jan 1;50:1-7. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2024-0244. Epub 2024 Nov 20.
PMID: 39566036DERIVEDYu J, Mahajan A, Darlington G, Buchholz AC, Duncan AM, Haines J, Ma DWL; Guelph Family Health Study. Free sugar intake from snacks and beverages in Canadian preschool- and toddler-aged children: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nutr. 2023 Mar 8;9(1):44. doi: 10.1186/s40795-023-00702-3.
PMID: 36890595DERIVED
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Jess Haines, PhD
Unviersity of Guelph
- STUDY DIRECTOR
David Ma, PhD
University of Guelph
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- PREVENTION
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Associate Professor/GFHS Associate Director
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
October 13, 2016
First Posted
October 20, 2016
Study Start
June 1, 2017
Primary Completion
June 1, 2020
Study Completion
September 1, 2020
Last Updated
September 20, 2018
Record last verified: 2018-09
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share