Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has launched a research study, the COACH trial, to test different ways to help children and their families improve their health through lifestyle changes delivered by primary care clinics in communities in Louisiana and Tennessee.
The COACH trial is enrolling 900 children ages 5 to 17 with obesity, which is classified as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex. Patients and their parents are being recruited through urban, suburban and rural doctor's offices in Tennessee and Louisiana.
In Louisiana, Pennington Biomedical is recruiting families through clinics in communities across the state, including Teche Health in Franklin, Houma, Morgan City and Dulac; FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake clinics in Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Francisville, New Roads, Greenwell Springs and Denham Springs; FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes clinics in Scott and Maurice; FMOL Health | Our Lady of Angels clinic in Bogalusa; Willis Knighton's Wonder Kids Clinic in Shreveport; and Ochsner Children's clinics in Lapalco, New Orleans and Luling. Those interested in participating and enrolling their child can explore more information on the trial at joincoach.org.
COACH is designed to help families improve their health through personalized nutrition counseling and visits with their child's doctor. Families will also explore community resources and access online interactive lessons about healthy habits. This new study will help expand access to evidence-based obesity treatments to families throughout our state."
Dr. Amanda Staiano, associate professor and director of the Pediatric Obesity & Health Behavior Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical
Families will receive weight management treatment at their child's primary care clinic, with health care providers sharing guidance on healthy eating, physical activity, reducing screen time, improving sleep and engaged parenting. The care team will include the child's primary pediatric health care providers, clinical nutritionists and community resource counselors to connect families to local resources. The primary outcome measure is weight change over 12 months, with secondary outcomes including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, media use and quality of life. Additionally, researchers will assess the reach, feasibility and accessibility for patients and health care providers.
With funding from a $13.8 million, five-year grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, or PCORI, Dr. Staiano, along with Vanderbilt University's Dr. William Heerman, are serving as dual principal investigators on the research study.
"At Pennington Biomedical, our scientists are not only working on cutting-edge research to fight chronic diseases like obesity, but they are helping define the best practices for medical professionals to follow," said Dr. Jennifer Rood, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical. "Evidence has shown that obesity treatment should begin early and at the highest intensity necessary, and having Pennington Biomedical partner with Vanderbilt University Medical Center on this project will help so many families in both Louisiana and Tennessee as we learn more about various methods to treat childhood obesity."
Despite ongoing efforts, childhood obesity prevalence in the U.S. has continued to increase over the past 10 years, with over one-in-five children and adolescents affected by obesity. The prevalence of childhood obesity is higher among children facing health disparities and limited access to interventions. Across the U.S., about 22 percent of Hispanic or Latino and 20 percent of African American children have obesity, compared to about 14 percent of white children. Additionally, obesity affects about 22 percent of children who live in rural areas.
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