{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,19]],"date-time":"2026-05-19T18:38:12Z","timestamp":1779215892078,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,14]],"date-time":"2025-08-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755129600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,14]],"date-time":"2025-08-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755129600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Int J Obes"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>There is a great need for determining the effectiveness of telephone-based early obesity interventions targeting preschool-aged children. This was particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic when most face-to-face health promotion programs were suspended. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a two-year telephone-based intervention on body mass index (BMI), eating habits, active play, and screen time behaviours among preschool-aged children.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We conducted an extension study to a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 662 mother-child dyads at ages 2\u20133 years in 2019\u201320 in the Greater Sydney metropolitan area of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. In 2020\u201322, we extended the RCT for another two years, with one-year intervention (3\u20134 years) and one-year follow-up (4\u20135 years). Participants remained in the same group allocation as the original trial. The intervention comprised five nurse-led telephone support calls and SMS plus mailed intervention booklets to mothers to promote the health behaviours of their children from ages 2 to 4 years. The primary outcome was children\u2019s BMI, with weight and height measured at ages 3, 4, and 5 years. We conducted intention-to-treat analysis with a multiple imputation approach. Mixed linear models were built to compare the outcomes between intervention and control groups. Sub-group analysis by household income was also conducted.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Of the 662 mothers, 537 (81%), 491 (74%), and 405 (61%) completed the assessments when their children were 3, 4, and 5 years old. The intervention was significantly associated with a lower mean BMI: 15.90 (SE 0.08) vs. 16.20 (SE 0.08), difference \u22120.30 (95% CI: \u22120.59 to \u22120.01,\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.039). This association was stronger among low-income families, difference \u22120.57 (95% CI: \u22121.05 to \u22120.10,\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.018).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The two-year telephone-based intervention was associated with decreased mean BMI of preschool-aged children. Telephone-based support for mothers could reduce obesity risk in preschool-aged children, particularly among low-income families.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Trial registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The original RCT is registered with the Australian Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12618001571268).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41366-025-01869-4","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,14]],"date-time":"2025-08-14T05:13:15Z","timestamp":1755148395000},"page":"2241-2248","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Effectiveness of a telephone-based randomised clinical trial targeting obesity risk of preschool-aged children: An extension study during the COVID-19 pandemic"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"49","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1381-4022","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Li Ming","family":"Wen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Huilan","family":"Xu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-6344-2670","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zoe","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8679-6040","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alison","family":"Hayes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Philayrath","family":"Phongsavan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sarah","family":"Taki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Erin","family":"Kerr","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Danielle","family":"Jawad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lisa","family":"Simone","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chris","family":"Rissel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4521-9482","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Louise A.","family":"Baur","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"1869_CR1","unstructured":"WHO. World Health Organization fact sheets: obesity and overweight. 2020. https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/obesity-and-overweight Accessed Jun 18, 2022."},{"key":"1869_CR2","unstructured":"WHO. Report of the commission on ending childhood obesity. 2016. https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/9789241510066 Accessed 17 Mar 2024."},{"key":"1869_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Brown T, Moore THM, Hooper L, Gao Y, Zayegh A, Ijaz S, et al. Interventions for preventing obesity in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/14651858.CD001871.pub4.","DOI":"10.1002\/14651858.CD001871.pub4"},{"key":"1869_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/ijpo.12618","volume":"15","author":"LM Askie","year":"2020","unstructured":"Askie LM, Espinoza D, Martin A, Daniels LA, Mihrshahi S, Taylor R, et al. Interventions commenced by early infancy to prevent childhood obesity\u2014The EPOCH Collaboration: an individual participant data prospective meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials. Pediatr Obes. 2020;15:e12618. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/ijpo.12618.","journal-title":"Pediatr Obes"},{"key":"1869_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"270","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijnurstu.2015.10.017","volume":"53","author":"J Ling","year":"2016","unstructured":"Ling J, Robbins LB, Wen F. Interventions to prevent and manage overweight or obesity in preschool children: a systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2016;53:270\u201389. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijnurstu.2015.10.017.","journal-title":"Int J Nurs Stud"},{"key":"1869_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e3732","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.e3732","volume":"344","author":"LM Wen","year":"2012","unstructured":"Wen LM, Baur LA, Simpson JM, Rissel C, Wardle K, Flood VM. Effectiveness of home based early intervention on children\u2019s BMI at age 2: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:e3732 https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj.e3732.","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"1869_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"339","DOI":"10.1111\/j.2047-6310.2013.00183.x","volume":"9","author":"TA Willis","year":"2014","unstructured":"Willis TA, George J, Hunt C, Roberts KPJ, Evans CEL, Brown RE, et al. Combating child obesity: impact of HENRY on parenting and family lifestyle. Pediatr Obes. 2014;9:339\u201350. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.2047-6310.2013.00183.x.","journal-title":"Pediatr Obes"},{"key":"1869_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e28","DOI":"10.3109\/17477166.2011.575147","volume":"6","author":"SMPL Gerards","year":"2011","unstructured":"Gerards SMPL, Sleddens sFC, Dagnelie PC, de Vries NK, Kremers SPJ. Interventions addressing general parenting to prevent or treat childhood obesity. Int J Pediatr Obes. 2011;6:e28\u201345. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3109\/17477166.2011.575147.","journal-title":"Int J Pediatr Obes"},{"key":"1869_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12966-019-0874-6","volume":"16","author":"I van de Kolk","year":"2019","unstructured":"van de Kolk I, Verjans-Janssen SRB, Gubbels JS, Kremers SPJ, Gerards SMPL. Systematic review of interventions in the childcare setting with direct parental involvement: effectiveness on child weight status and energy balance-related behaviours. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2019;16:110. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12966-019-0874-6.","journal-title":"Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act"},{"key":"1869_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"657","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2020.0215","volume":"174","author":"LM Wen","year":"2020","unstructured":"Wen LM, Rissel C, Xu H, Taki S, Buchanan L, Bedford K, et al. Effects of telephone and short message service support on infant feeding practices, \u201ctummy time,\u201d and screen time at 6 and 12 months of child age: a 3-group randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2020;174:657\u201364.","journal-title":"JAMA Pediatr"},{"key":"1869_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/ijpo.12875","volume":"17","author":"LM Wen","year":"2022","unstructured":"Wen LM, Xu H, Taki S, Buchanan L, Rissel C, Phongsavan P, et al. Effects of telephone support or short message service on body mass index, eating and screen time behaviours of children age 2\u2009years: a 3-arm randomized controlled trial. Pediatr Obes. 2022;17:e12875. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/ijpo.12875.","journal-title":"Pediatr Obes"},{"key":"1869_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"791","DOI":"10.1038\/s41366-023-01311-7","volume":"47","author":"LM Wen","year":"2023","unstructured":"Wen LM, Xu H, Phongsavan P, Rissel C, Hayes A, Taki S, et al. Twelve-month effectiveness of telephone and SMS support to mothers with children aged 2 years in reducing children\u2019s BMI: a randomized controlled trial. Intern J Obes. 2023;47:791\u20138. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41366-023-01311-7.","journal-title":"Intern J Obes"},{"key":"1869_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1034","DOI":"10.1002\/jac5.1495","volume":"4","author":"KL Barefield","year":"2021","unstructured":"Barefield KL, Rollins B. Review of telehealth interventions for childhood obesity in minority, low-income or underserved populations: opportunity for pharmacists. JACCP. J Am Coll Clin Pharm. 2021;4:1034\u201343. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/jac5.1495.","journal-title":"J Am Coll Clin Pharm"},{"key":"1869_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101940","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pmedr.2022.101940","volume":"29","author":"L Bonvicini","year":"2022","unstructured":"Bonvicini L, Pingani I, Venturelli F, Patrignani N, Bassi MC, Broccoli S, et al. Effectiveness of mobile health interventions targeting parents to prevent and treat childhood obesity: systematic review. Prev Med Rep. 2022;29:101940. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.pmedr.2022.101940.","journal-title":"Prev Med Rep"},{"key":"1869_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1072","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2013.2356","volume":"167","author":"J Haines","year":"2013","unstructured":"Haines J, McDonald J, O\u2019Brien A, Sherry B, Bottino CJ, Schmidt ME, et al. Healthy habits, happy homes: randomized trial to improve household routines for obesity prevention among preschool-aged children. JAMA Pediatr. 2013;167:1072\u20139. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2013.2356.","journal-title":"JAMA Pediatr"},{"key":"1869_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Wen LM, Xu H, Rissel C, Kerr E, Buchanan L, Taki S, et al. Demographic predictors of mothers\u2019 willingness to vaccinate young children against COVID-19, get tested and isolate: a cross-sectional survey before and during the greater sydney lockdown 2021, Australia. Front. Public Health. 2022;10. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2022.904495.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2022.904495"},{"key":"1869_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Smith W, Taki S, Wen LM. The role of telehealth in supporting mothers and children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aust J Adv Nurs. 2020;37. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.37464\/2020.373.168.","DOI":"10.37464\/2020.373.168"},{"key":"1869_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"739","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7058-9","volume":"19","author":"LM Wen","year":"2019","unstructured":"Wen LM, Rissel C, Xu H, Taki S, Smith W, Bedford K, et al. Linking two randomised controlled trials for Healthy Beginnings\u00a9: optimising early obesity prevention programs for children under 3\u2009years. BMC Public Health. 2019;19:739. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12889-019-7058-9.","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"1869_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Janz NK, Becker MH. The Health Belief Model: a decade later. Health Educ Q. 1984. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/109019818401100101.","DOI":"10.1177\/109019818401100101"},{"key":"1869_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"206","DOI":"10.1007\/s11121-007-0070-9","volume":"8","author":"JW Graham","year":"2007","unstructured":"Graham JW, Olchowski AE, Gilreath TD. How many imputations are really needed? Some practical clarifications of multiple imputation theory. Prev Sci. 2007;8:206\u201313. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11121-007-0070-9.","journal-title":"Prev Sci"},{"key":"1869_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1089\/chi.2018.0010","volume":"15","author":"SV Sharma","year":"2019","unstructured":"Sharma SV, Vandewater E, Chuang RJ, Byrd-Williams C, Kelder S, Butte N, et al. Impact of the coordinated approach to child health early childhood program for obesity prevention among preschool children: the texas childhood obesity research demonstration study. Child Obes. 2019;15:1\u201313. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1089\/chi.2018.0010.","journal-title":"Child Obes"},{"key":"1869_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e12919","DOI":"10.1111\/ijpo.12919","volume":"17","author":"AL Seidler","year":"2022","unstructured":"Seidler AL, Hunter KE, Baur L, Espinoza D, Taylor RW, Wen LM, et al. Examining the sustainability of effects of early childhood obesity prevention interventions: follow-up of the EPOCH individual participant data prospective meta-analysis. Pediatr Obes. 2022;17:e12919. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/ijpo.12919.","journal-title":"Pediatr Obes"},{"key":"1869_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"803545","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2021.803545","volume":"12","author":"AL Seidler","year":"2022","unstructured":"Seidler AL, Johnson BJ, Golley RK, Hunter KE. The complex quest of preventing obesity in early childhood: describing challenges and solutions through collaboration and innovation. Front Endocrinol. 2022;12:803545. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fendo.2021.803545.","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol"},{"key":"1869_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"669","DOI":"10.1177\/1357633x211022907","volume":"29","author":"CL Snoswell","year":"2021","unstructured":"Snoswell CL, Chelberg G, De Guzman KR, Haydon HH, Thomas EE, Caffery LJ, et al. The clinical effectiveness of telehealth: a systematic review of meta-analyses from 2010 to 2019. J Telemed Telecare. 2021;29:669\u201384. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1357633x211022907.","journal-title":"J Telemed Telecare"},{"key":"1869_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"450","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2018.9128","volume":"320","author":"SL Barkin","year":"2018","unstructured":"Barkin SL, Heerman WJ, Sommer EC, Martin NC, Buchowski MS, Schlundt D, et al. Effect of a behavioral intervention for underserved preschool-age children on change in body mass index: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2018;320:450\u201360. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jama.2018.9128.","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"1869_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1327","DOI":"10.3945\/ajcn.116.150995","volume":"105","author":"CD Nystr\u00f6m","year":"2017","unstructured":"Nystr\u00f6m CD, Sandin S, Henriksson P, Henriksson H, Trolle-Lagerros Y, Larsson C, et al. Mobile-based intervention intended to stop obesity in preschool-aged children: the MINISTOP randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutrit. 2017;105:1327\u201335. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3945\/ajcn.116.150995.","journal-title":"Am J Clin Nutrit"},{"key":"1869_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3087","DOI":"10.1017\/s1368980021001117","volume":"24","author":"TJH Ho","year":"2021","unstructured":"Ho TJH, Cheng LJ, Lau Y. School-based interventions for the treatment of childhood obesity: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of cluster randomised controlled trials. Public Health Nutr. 2021;24:3087\u201399. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/s1368980021001117.","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr"},{"key":"1869_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7645-9","volume":"19","author":"Z Yang","year":"2019","unstructured":"Yang Z, Phung H, Hughes A-M, Sherwood S, Harper E, Kelly P. Trends in overweight and obesity by socioeconomic status in Year 6 school children, Australian Capital Territory, 2006\u20132018. BMC Public Health. 2019;19:1512. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12889-019-7645-9.","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"1869_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"702","DOI":"10.1038\/s41366-024-01471-0","volume":"48","author":"T Lung","year":"2024","unstructured":"Lung T, Killedar A, Taki S, Wen LM, Dickson M, Howard K, et al. Differences in weight status among Australian children and adolescents from priority populations: a longitudinal study. Int J Obes. 2024;48:702\u20138. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41366-024-01471-0.","journal-title":"Int J Obes"},{"key":"1869_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"276","DOI":"10.1111\/obr.12360","volume":"17","author":"A Chung","year":"2016","unstructured":"Chung A, Backholer K, Wong E, Palermo C, Keating C, Peeters A. Trends in child and adolescent obesity prevalence in economically advanced countries according to socioeconomic position: a systematic review. Obes Rev. 2016;17:276\u201395. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/obr.12360.","journal-title":"Obes Rev"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Obesity"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41366-025-01869-4.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41366-025-01869-4","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41366-025-01869-4.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T10:16:25Z","timestamp":1762164985000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41366-025-01869-4"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,14]]},"references-count":30,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,11]]}},"alternative-id":["1869"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41366-025-01869-4","relation":{},"ISSN":["0307-0565","1476-5497"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0307-0565","type":"print"},{"value":"1476-5497","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,14]]},"assertion":[{"value":"27 February 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"27 June 2025","order":2,"name":"revised","label":"Revised","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"21 July 2025","order":3,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"14 August 2025","order":4,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}},{"value":"The trial was granted ethics approval by the Ethics Review Committee of Sydney Local Health District (Protocol No. X16\u20130360 & LNR\/16\/RPAH\/495 and Protocol No X18\u20130387 & HREC\/18\/RPAH\/545). Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethical approval"}}]}}