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 aged 5 to 17 with obesity, who are classified as having a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for their age and gender. Patients and their parents are being recruited through urban, suburban, and rural doctor 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 Clinic at Scott and Morris; 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 learn more about 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 gain access to online interactive lessons about healthy habits. “This new study will help expand access to evidence-based obesity treatment for families throughout our state.”
Dr. Amanda Staiano, Associate Professor and Director of the Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical
Families will receive weight management treatment in their child’s primary care clinic, with health care providers sharing guidance on healthy eating, physical activity, reducing screen time, improving sleep, and engaging parenting. The care team will include the child’s primary pediatric health care provider, clinical nutritionist, and community resource counselors to connect families to local resources. The primary outcome measure is change in weight over 12 months, with secondary outcomes including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, media use, and quality of life. Additionally, researchers will assess accessibility, feasibility, and accessibility for patients and health care providers.
With a $13.8 million funding, a five-year grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, or PCORI, Dr. Staano, along with Dr. William Heerman of Vanderbilt UniversityAre Serve as dual principal investigators on research studies.
“At Pennington Biomedical, our scientists are not only working on cutting-edge research to fight chronic diseases like obesity, but they are helping define best practices for medical professionals,” said Dr. Jennifer Rood, interim senior vice chancellor and executive director of Pennington Biomedical. “The evidence shows that obesity treatment must begin early and at the highest intensity necessary, and having Pennington Biomedical partner with Vanderbilt University Medical Center on this project will help many families in both Louisiana and Tennessee as we learn more about different ways to treat childhood obesity.”
Despite ongoing efforts, the prevalence of childhood obesity in the US has continued to increase over the past 10 years, with one in five children and adolescents affected by obesity. The prevalence of childhood obesity is higher among children who face health disparities and limited access to interventions. Across the United States, about 22 percent of Hispanic or Latino and 20 percent of African American children suffer from obesity, while about 14 percent of white children suffer from obesity. Additionally, about 22 percent of children living in rural areas are affected by obesity.
