# Reducing Childhood Obesity Using Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) and Video Feedback atFamily Meals

> **NIH NIH R33** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2022 · $1,159,541

## Abstract

Abstract
The low to moderate success with childhood obesity interventions to date and the persistent obesity disparities
across race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status indicate the need to approach childhood obesity in a new and
innovative way. Building on the last three decades of research on childhood obesity, the main objective of the
proposed study is to utilize state-of-the-art intervention methods including ecological momentary intervention
(EMI), video feedback, and home visiting methods in partnership with primary care clinics and Community
Health Workers (CHWs) to examine whether increasing the quality of family meals (i.e., dietary quality,
interpersonal atmosphere) and quantity of family meals (i.e., frequency of meals) reduces childhood obesity.
Numerous studies have shown significant associations between family meal frequency and child weight and
weight-related behaviors (e.g., better diet quality, lower weight status). Research has also shown that the
quality of family meals, including dietary quality of the food served at family meals and the interpersonal
atmosphere during family meals, is associated with decreased childhood obesity risk. In addition, prior
intervention research has shown that immediate feedback on health behaviors (e.g., EMI, video feedback)
increases the likelihood of behavior change. Thus, the proposed individual randomized controlled effectiveness
trial, based on our pilot study, tests combinations of the above factors (i.e., EMI, home visiting, video feedback)
across three study arms: (1) EMI; (2) EMI+Home Visiting (HV); and (3) EMI+HV+Video Feedback. All arms will
receive 16 weeks of EMI family meal tip messages delivered via smartphones. Arms 2 and 3 will additionally
receive home visiting (eight in-home visits; eight “Try it Yourself” activities) focused on family meal quality and
quantity and a family meal prep activity delivered by a CHW simultaneously with the 16 weeks of EMI. Arm 3
will additionally receive eight weeks of video feedback focused on family meal behavior(s)/patterns delivered
by a CHW during the eight in-home visits. All arms will receive an 8-week maintenance phase allowing for
progressively less support of families so they can increase self-efficacy and sustainability of behavior change.
The intervention will be carried out for 6 months with children with overweight/obesity (i.e., BMI ≥85%ile) who
are ages 5-8 years (n=510), from low income and diverse households (i.e., African American, Hispanic, Native
American, White), and their families. Eligible children will be recruited through primary care clinics. Drawing on
Family Systems Theory, the intervention aims to change individual and family-level behaviors. Specifically, the
intervention will be delivered to the family unit and primary outcomes will include child weight (i.e., BMI %ile)
and diet quality (i.e., Healthy Eating Index). Secondary outcomes will include parent and other family member’s
weight and weight-related behaviors. T...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10417376
- **Project number:** 4R33HL151978-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Jerica M Berge
- **Activity code:** R33 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,159,541
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2021-05-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10417376

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10417376, Reducing Childhood Obesity Using Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) and Video Feedback atFamily Meals (4R33HL151978-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10417376. Licensed CC0.

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