IADR Abstract Archives
Healthy Weight Intervention in Dental Settings for 2 to 6 Year Olds
Objectives: Objectives: Dental settings can provide opportunities for obesity prevention through a Healthy Weight Intervention (HWI). Body weight and associated lifestyle behaviors track from childhood to adulthood; thus there has been an increased focus on obesity prevention in younger ages. This study assessed the feasibility of adapting the HWI for 2.5-6 year olds, and obtained feedback from caregivers and dental clinicians.
Methods: Methods: 209 children 2.5-6 years old were recruited. The HWI, implemented over 1 year following a 6-month recall schedule, consisted of calculating Body Mass Index percentile, assessing obesity risk factors, and setting individualized goals to improve obesity risk behaviors. Using motivational interviewing techniques, hygienists worked with parents and children to complete the HWI, addressing diet, physical activity, and eating behaviors. Feedback from clinician and parent interviews was utilized to assess HWI feasibility in this age group.
Results: Results: 78.31% of child subjects were normal weight (5-85th percentile), 15.63% were overweight or obese (>85th percentile), and 6.06% were underweight (<5th percentile). Qualitative interviews revealed challenges that dental professionals may face in promoting obesity prevention in this age group. These include: 1) perceived need for additional training and healthy weight guidelines 2) fear of offending patients when asking behavioral questions 3) variations in interpretations of HWI wording and recommendations.
Conclusions: Conclusions: Some improvements of the HWI risk assessment tool were made to better prepare clinicians to assess and advise preschool patients and their parents on healthy weight habits. For children under 6, we found that the caregiver is critical for HWI; the child is rarely engaged. This paradigm can lead to challenges and opportunities that are not encountered when HWI is used with older children. The tools we developed in our study can serve as the basis for a feasible dental office-based obesity prevention program at an early age.
Methods: Methods: 209 children 2.5-6 years old were recruited. The HWI, implemented over 1 year following a 6-month recall schedule, consisted of calculating Body Mass Index percentile, assessing obesity risk factors, and setting individualized goals to improve obesity risk behaviors. Using motivational interviewing techniques, hygienists worked with parents and children to complete the HWI, addressing diet, physical activity, and eating behaviors. Feedback from clinician and parent interviews was utilized to assess HWI feasibility in this age group.
Results: Results: 78.31% of child subjects were normal weight (5-85th percentile), 15.63% were overweight or obese (>85th percentile), and 6.06% were underweight (<5th percentile). Qualitative interviews revealed challenges that dental professionals may face in promoting obesity prevention in this age group. These include: 1) perceived need for additional training and healthy weight guidelines 2) fear of offending patients when asking behavioral questions 3) variations in interpretations of HWI wording and recommendations.
Conclusions: Conclusions: Some improvements of the HWI risk assessment tool were made to better prepare clinicians to assess and advise preschool patients and their parents on healthy weight habits. For children under 6, we found that the caregiver is critical for HWI; the child is rarely engaged. This paradigm can lead to challenges and opportunities that are not encountered when HWI is used with older children. The tools we developed in our study can serve as the basis for a feasible dental office-based obesity prevention program at an early age.