Three-year behavioural, health-related quality of life, and body mass index outcomes from the RESPOND randomized trial

Objectives

Evaluate RESPOND, a community-based systems intervention to prevent childhood obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCD).

Study design

Cluster randomized trial of building community capacity to use systems science for child obesity and NCD prevention in 10 local government areas in northeast Victoria, Australia. Four-year stepped wedge trial, adapted due to COVID-19 restrictions

Methods

Cluster randomized trial of building community capacity to use systems science for child obesity and NCD prevention in 10 local government areas in northeast Victoria, Australia. Four-year stepped wedge trial, adapted due to COVID-19 restrictions. Data from 31 primary schools participating at both March to June 2019 (60 % school participation rate), and March to August 2022 (30 %) analysed using linear mixed models. Primary outcome was age-sex-adjusted body mass index z-scores (BMIz) calculated from measured height and weight (children in grades 2, 4 and 6 [aged 7–12 years]). Secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-reported health behaviours (grades 4 and 6).

Results

Non-significant intervention effects were observed for BMIz (−0.10; 95 % CI: 0.30, 0.11), and percentage with overweight or obesity (−5.4 %; 95 % CI: 13.6 %, 2.7 %). HRQoL deteriorated between 2019 and 2022, except where intervention effects for HRQoL were observed in boys’ psychosocial health summary score (7.4; 95% CI: 3.5, 11.2) and total scale score (9.9; 95% CI: 5.5, 14.2). There was an intervention effect for the proportion of boys consuming ≥5 glasses of water per day (15.2 %; 95% CI: 0.9–29.6).

Conclusion

RESPOND protected overall and psychosocial health and had positive effects on BMIz.