Collaboration: protocol for a systematic review with individual participant data meta-analysis of behavioural interventions for the prevention of early childhood obesity.
Introduction Behavioural interventions in early life appear
to show some effect in reducing childhood overweight
and obesity. However, uncertainty remains regarding
their overall effectiveness, and whether effectiveness
differs among key subgroups. These evidence gaps have
prompted an increase in very early childhood obesity
prevention trials worldwide. Combining the individual
participant data (IPD) from these trials will enhance
statistical power to determine overall effectiveness and
enable examination of individual and trial-level subgroups.
We present a protocol for a systematic review with IPD
meta- analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of obesity
prevention interventions commencing antenatally or in
the first year after birth, and to explore whether there are
differential effects among key subgroups.
Methods and analysis Systematic searches of Medline,
Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,
Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature
(CINAHL), PsycInfo and trial registries for all ongoing
and completed randomised controlled trials evaluating
behavioural interventions for the prevention of early
childhood obesity have been completed up to March
2021 and will be updated annually to include additional
trials. Eligible trialists will be asked to share their IPD;
if unavailable, aggregate data will be used where
possible. An IPD meta-analysis and a nested prospective
meta- analysis will be performed using methodologies
recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. The
primary outcome will be body mass index z-score at age
24±6 months using WHO Growth Standards, and effect
differences will be explored among prespecified individual
and trial-level subgroups. Secondary outcomes include
other child weight-related measures, infant feeding,
dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behaviours,
sleep, parenting measures and adverse events.
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and Flinders University Social and Behavioural Research
Ethics Committee (HREC CIA2133- 1). Results will be
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