Unpacking the behavioural components and delivery features of early childhood obesity prevention interventions in the TOPCHILD collaboration: a systematic review and intervention coding protocol

Authors: JOHNSON, BRITTANY - Flinders University; HUNTER, KYLIE - University Of Sydney; GOLLEY, REBECCA - Flinders University; CHADWICK, PAUL - University College London; Thomson, Jessica

Submitted to: BMJ Open
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/28/2021
Publication Date: 1/20/2022
Citation: Johnson, B.J., Hunter, K.E., Golley, R.K., Chadwick, P., Thomson, J.L. 2022. Unpacking the behavioural components and delivery features of early childhood obesity prevention interventions in the TOPCHILD collaboration: a systematic review and intervention coding protocol. BMJ Open. 12(1). Article e048165. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048165.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048165

Interpretive Summary: Childhood interventions beginning early in life or even before birth seek to change maternal/caregiver behaviors. How such interventions effect behavior change, and which components are most effect at inducing change remains to be determined. Thus, this study aims to 1) characterize early obesity prevention interventions in terms of target behaviors, delivery features, and behavior change techniques (BCTs), 2) explore similarities and differences in BCTs, and 3) explore effectiveness of intervention components in preventing childhood obesity. Annual comprehensive systematic searches will be performed in Epub Ahead of Print/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane (CENTRAL), CINAHL, PsycINFO, as well as clinical trial registries. Eligible randomized controlled trials of behavioral interventions to prevent childhood obesity that begin prior to or in the first year of birth will be invited to join the TOPCHILD Collaboration. Standardized methods will be used to code target behaviors, delivery features and BCTs in both published and unpublished intervention materials provided by trialists. Intervention components and BCTs will be summarized, compared by types of target behaviors, and assessed for effectiveness. Our study will provide an in-depth analysis of behavioral components and delivery features used in obesity prevention interventions starting prior to or in the first 12 months of birth. Understanding of common intervention approaches will provide much needed insight to advance the design of early obesity prevention interventions and provide tools for predictive modelling of future intervention outcomes.

Technical Abstract: Little is known about how early (e.g., commencing antenatally or in the first 12 months after birth) obesity prevention interventions seek to change behaviour and which components are or are not effective. This study aims to 1) characterise early obesity prevention interventions in terms of target behaviours, delivery features, and behaviour change techniques (BCTs), 2) explore similarities and differences in BCTs used to target behaviours, and 3) explore effectiveness of intervention components in preventing childhood obesity. Methods and analysis: Annual comprehensive systematic searches will be performed in Epub Ahead of Print/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane (CENTRAL), CINAHL, PsycINFO, as well as clinical trial registries. Eligible randomised controlled trials of behavioural interventions to prevent childhood obesity commencing antenatally or in the first year after birth will be invited to join the TOPCHILD Collaboration. Standard ontologies will be used to code target behaviours, delivery features and BCTs in both published and unpublished intervention materials provided by trialists. Narrative syntheses will be performed to summarise intervention components and compare applied BCTs by types of target behaviours. Exploratory analyses will be undertaken to assess effectiveness of intervention components. Discussion: Our study will provide an in depth understanding of behavioural components and delivery features used in obesity prevention interventions starting antenatally or in the first 12 months after birth. Understanding common intervention approaches in a systematic way will provide much needed insight to advance the design of early obesity prevention interventions and provide the opportunity to undertake future quantitative predictive modelling.