Fit 5 Kids TV Reduction Program for Latino Preschoolers: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

IntroductionReducing Latino preschoolers’ TV viewing is needed to reduce their risk of obesity and other chronic diseases. This study’s objective was to evaluate the Fit 5 Kids (F5K) TV reduction program’s impact on Latino preschooler’s TV viewing.Study designCluster RCT with randomization at the center level and N=160 participants.Setting/participantsLatino children aged 3–5 years and their parents were recruited from six Head Start centers in Houston TX in 2010–2012 with analyses in 2013–2014.InterventionF5K was culturally adapted for Latino preschoolers and the overall goal was to reduce TV viewing. Study staff taught F5K over 7–8 weeks during the regular Head Start day directly to intervention students. Control schools provided the usual Head Start curriculum, which did not specifically cover TV viewing.Main outcome measuresIndividual-level outcomes were measured prior to (Time 1) and immediately following (Time 2) the intervention. The primary outcome, TV viewing (minutes/day), was measured by validated 7-day TV diaries (parent-reported). Sedentary time was measured by accelerometers.ResultsPer the adjusted repeated measures linear mixed effects model for TV viewing (minutes/day), intervention children decreased from 76.2 (9.9) at Time 1 to 52.1 (10.0) at Time 2, whereas control children remained about the same from 84.2 (10.5) at Time 1 to 85.4 (10.5) at Time 2. The relative difference from Time 1 to Time 2 was –25.3 (95% CI= –45.2, –5.4) minutes for intervention versus control children (N=160, p=0.01). In a similar adjusted model, there was a relative decrease in sedentary time (minutes/day) from Time 1 to Time 2 favoring the intervention children (–9.5, 95% CI= –23.0, 4.1), although not significant at p<0.05.ConclusionsF5K reduced Latino preschoolers’ TV viewing by >25 minutes daily. These findings have implications for prevention of obesity, related disorders, and health equity.Trial registrationThis study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01216306.