Skip to main content

Evaluation of a Childhood Obesity Prevention Online Training Certificate Program for Community Family Educators

Journal of Community Health volume 41, pages 1187–1195 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Community family educators have the opportunity to incorporate childhood obesity prevention concepts in their programming with families of young children, but often lack formal health and nutrition education. The purpose of this feasibility study was to create an online training certificate program for community family educators and assess the program’s effectiveness at improving participant’s knowledge, attitudes, and intended and actual behaviors related to healthy lifestyles. Community family educators (n = 68) completed an online pretest, viewed 13 brief videos (8–15 min) focused on childhood obesity related topics and took mini-knowledge self-checks after each video followed by an online posttest. At posttest, paired t tests showed participants’ childhood obesity prevention related knowledge (i.e., nutrition, physical activity, screen time and sleep) improved significantly (p < 0.001). Participants’ attitudes toward parenting behaviors related to feeding practices, family meals, physical activity, screen time control and parent modeling significantly (p < 0.05) improved. Improvements also were seen in participants’ intentions to promote obesity prevention behaviors (i.e., age appropriate portions sizes, adequate physically active, and parental role modeling). Furthermore, changes in personal health behaviors at posttest revealed participants had significantly (p < 0.05) greater dietary restraint, improvements in sleep quality, and reductions of use of electronic devices during meals and snacks. Overall, participants were very satisfied with the training program, felt comfortable with skills acquired, and enjoyed the program. Findings suggest this online training program is a feasible and effective method for improving community family educators’ knowledge, attitudes, and intentions for obesity-prevention related parenting practices.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Liechty, J., Saltzman, J., & Musaad, S. (2015). Health literacy and parent attitudes about weight control for children. Appetite, 91, 200–208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Child & Family Research Partnerships. (2013). CFRP policy brief: Involving fathers in home visiting programs: Lessons from the Dads. Austin, TX: The University of Texas at Austin.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Sandstrom, H., Healy, O., Gearing, M., & Peters, H. (2015). Serving young fathers in home visiting programs: Highlights from a research study (pp. 1–14). Washington, DC: Urban University.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ogden, C., Carroll, M., Kit, B., & Flegal, K. (2014). Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011–2012. JAMA, 311(8), 806–814.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Baker, S. S., Pearson, M., & Chipman, H. (2009). Development of core competencies for paraprofessional nutrition educators who deliver food stamp nutrition education. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 41(2), 138–143.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Christofferson, D., Christensen, N., LeBlanc, H., & Bunch, M. (2012). Developing an online certification program for nutrition education assistants. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 44(5), 407–414.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Morrison, L., Fleming, L., Gray, C., Fleming, C., & Hamad, C. (2015). Online learning for early intervention professionals: Transition planning form early intervention to school. Journal of Special Education Technology, 28(2), 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Howatson-Jones, L. (2004). Designing web-based education courses for nurses. Nursing Standard, 19(11), 41–44.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Taylor, T., Serrano, E., Anderson, J., & Kendall, P. (2000). Knowledge, skills, and behavior improvements on peer educators and low-income Hispanic participants after a stage of change-based bilingual nutrition education program. Journal of Community Health, 25(3), 241–262.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Barlow, S. (2007). Expert committee recommendations regarding the prevention, assessment, and treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity: Summary report. Pediatrics, 120, S164–S192.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Martin-Biggers, J., Spaccarotella, K., Delaney, C., Koenings, M., Alleman, G., Hongu, N., et al. (2015). Development of the intervention materials for the homestyles obesity prevention program for parents of preschoolers. Nutrients, 7(8), 6628–6669.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Storfer-Isser, A., & Musher-Eizenman, D. (2013). Measuring parent time scarcity and fatigue as barriers to meal planning and preparation: Quantitative scale development. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 45(2), 176–182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Wardle, J., Sanderson, S., Guthrie, C. A., Rapoport, L., & Plomin, R. (2002). Parental feeding style and the inter-generational transmission of obesity risk. Obesity Research, 2002(10), 6.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ogden, J., Reynolds, R., & Smith, A. (2006). Expanding the concept of parental control: A role for overt and covert control in children’s snacking behaviour? Appetite, 47(1), 100–106.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hughes, S., Power, T., Orlet, F., Mueller, S., & Nicklas, T. A. (2005). Revisiting a neglected construct: Parenting styles in a child-feeding context. Appetite, 44(1), 83–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hughes, S., Cross, M., Hennessy, E., Tovar, A., Economos, C., & Power, T. (2012). Caregiver’s Feeding Styles Questionnaire: Establishing cut-off points. Appetite, 58(1), 393–395.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Spurrier, N., Magarey, A., Golley, R., Curnow, F., & Sawyer, M. (2008). Relationships between the home environment and physical activity and dietary patterns of preschool children: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 5, 31.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Birch, L., & Davison, K. (2001). Family environmental factors influencing the developing behavioral controls of food intake and childhood overweight. Pediatrics of Clinical North America, 48(4), 893–907.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Faith, M., Storey, M., Kral, T., & Pietrobelli, A. (2008). The Feeding Demands Questionnaire: Assessment of parental demand cognitions concerning parent child feeding relations. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 108(4), 624–630.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Tibbs, T., Haire-Joshu, D., Schechtman, K., Brownson, R., Nanney, M., Houston, C., et al. (2001). The relationship between parental modeling, eating patterns, and dietary intake among African-American parents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 101(5), 535–541.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Kremers, S., De Bruijn, G., Visscher, T., Van Mechelen, W., De Vries, N., & Brug, J. (2006). Environmental influences on energy balance-related behaviors: A dual-process view. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 3, 9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Bryant, M., Ward, D., Hales, D., Vaughn, A., Tabak, R., & Stevens, J. (2008). Reliability and validity of the Healthy Home Survey: A tool to measure factors within homes hypothesized to relate to overweight in children. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 5, 23.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Perry, C., & Story, M. (2003). Correlates of fruit and vegetable intake among adolescents: Findings from Project EAT. Preventive Medicine, 37(3), 198–208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., Hannan, P., Perry, C., & Irving, L. (2002). Weight-related concerns and behaviors among overweight and nonoverweight adolescents: Implications for preventing weight-related disorders. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 156(2), 171–178.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Trost, S., Sallis, J., Pate, R., Freedson, P., Taylor, W., & Dowda, M. (2003). Evaluating a model of parental influence on youth physical activity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 25(4), 277–282.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Sallis, J., Prochaska, J., Taylor, W., Hill, J., & Ceraci, J. (1999). Correlates of physical activity in a national sample of girls and boys in grades 4 through 12. Health Psychology, 18(4), 284–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Earls, F.J., Brooks-Gunn, J., Raudenbush, S.W., & Sampson, R.J. (2006). Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Stanford-Binet, Wave 2 1997–2000, ICPSR13652-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research. doi:10.3886/ICPSR13652.v1.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Sallis, J., Prochaska, J., & Taylor, W. (2000). A review of correlates of physical activity of children and adolescents. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32(5), 963–975.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Buysee, D., Reynolds, C., Monk, T., Berman, S., & Kupfer, D. (1989). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Research, 28, 193–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Karlsson, J., Persson, L., Sjostrom, L., & Sullivan, M. (2000). Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) in obese men and women. Results from the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) Study. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 24(12), 1715–1725.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Berk, R. (1986). A consumer’s guide to setting performance standards on criterion referenced tests. Review of Educational Research, 56, 137–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Coscarelli, W., & Shrock, S. (2002). The two most useful approaches to estimating criterion-referenced test reliability in a single rest administration. Performace Improvement Quarterly, 15, 74–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Livingston, S. (1972). Criterion-reference applications of classical test theory. Journal of Educational Measurement, 9, 13–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Linn, R., & Gronlund, N. (1999). Measurement and assessment in teaching (8th ed.). New York: Merrill Co.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Ebel, R., & Frisbie, D. (1986). Essentials of educational measurements. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Gronlund, N. (1997). Assessment of student achievement (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Neelon, S., & Briley, M. (2011). Position of the American Dietetic Association: Benchmarks for nutrition in child care. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111, 607–615.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, & National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. (2011). Caring for our children: National health and safety performance standards; Guidelines for early care and education programs. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.

  39. Adedza, P., Orr, R. A., Chapman-Novakofski, K., & Donovan, S. (2013). Set the pace: Nutrition education DVD for head start parents. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 45(3), 279–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Stark, C., Graham-Kiefer, M., Devine, C., Dollahite, J., & Olson, C. (2011). Online course increases nutritonal professionals’ knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in using an ecological approach to prevent childhood obesity. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 43(5), 316–322.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Neuenschwander, L., Abbott, A., & Mobley, A. (2013). Comparison of a web-based vs. in-person education program for low-income adults. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 113(1), 120–126.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Wardel, J., Sanderson, S., Guthrie, C., Rapoport, L., & Plomin, R. (2002). Parental feeding style and the inter-generational transmission of obesity risk. Obesity Research, 10(6), 453–462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Orlet, F., Mitchelle, D., Wright, H., & Birch, L. (2002). Parental influences on young girls’ fruit and vegetable, micronutrient and fat intakes. Journal of the American Dietetic Associateion, 102(1), 58–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Galloway, A., Fiorito, L., Francis, L., & Birch, L. (2006). ‘Finish Your Soup’: Counterproductive effects of pressuring children to eat on intake and affect. Appetite, 46(3), 1264–1272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Spruijt-Metz, D., Lindquist, C., Birch, L., Fisher, J., & Goran, M. (2002). Relations between mothers’ child-feeding practices and chilren’s adiposity. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 75(3), 581–586.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Ramsay, S., Holyoke, L., Branen, L. J., & Fletcher, J. (2012). Six characteristics of nutrition education videos that support learning and motivation to learn. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 44(6), 614–617.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Council of Research Excellence. (2009). Ground breaking study of video viewing finds younger boomers consume more video media than any other group. In R. Zackon (Ed.), Traditional television remain “800 Pound Gorilla” in video media arena (pp. 1–4). NY: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  48. National Sleep Foundation. (2016). How much sleep do we really need? National Sleep Foundation.

Download references

Funding

This study was funded by USDA NIFA (Grant #2011-68001-30170).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University, 26 Nichol Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA

    Kaitlyn Eck, Virginia Quick, Jennifer Martin-Biggers & Carol Byrd-Bredbenner

  2. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Gayle Povis Alleman & Nobuko Hongu

Authors
  1. Kaitlyn Eck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gayle Povis Alleman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Virginia Quick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jennifer Martin-Biggers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nobuko Hongu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Carol Byrd-Bredbenner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Virginia Quick.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Eck, K., Alleman, G.P., Quick, V. et al. Evaluation of a Childhood Obesity Prevention Online Training Certificate Program for Community Family Educators. J Community Health 41, 1187–1195 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-016-0200-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-016-0200-z

Keywords

  • Community family educator
  • Obesity
  • Child
  • Training program
  • Parent