The proposed project aims to implement and evaluate a novel, family-based lifestyle medicine intervention integrating group Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) for parents and adolescents with a twelve-month medically tailored groceries (MTG) and six-month culinary medicine Food is Medicine program. The intervention provides adolescent weight wellness treatment through a holistic, community engaged approach leveraging family connection, clinical care, and nutrition support. Monthly SMAs will include time for parents and adolescents to meet independently and conclude together. These visits will be co-led by physicians, dietitians, and health professionals. Parents will receive the Ardmore Institute's Full Plate Living program while adolescents receive Tufts Pediatrics Strong, Positive and Resilient Kids (SPARK) Weight Wellness program. The SMA format is reimbursable, fosters peer support, enhances patient-provider interaction, and allows efficient delivery of education and care. Each session will include nutrition and lifestyle education, review of individualized weight care plans, and proactive goal setting tailored to adults, adolescents, and families.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
Culinary Education - Kids Test Kitchen: In Cohort 2, as part of the SMA, families will participate in six cooking classes. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on cooking, nutrition literacy, and family engagement.
Medically Tailored Groceries (MTG): In Cohorts 2 and 3 families receive twelve months of MTG at $250 USD per month. Groceries are customized to clinical goals such as weight management, blood pressure control, and glycemic regulation.
Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs): Families will attend monthly 60-90-minute group visits. The SMAs will include separate parent and adolescent classes, followed by joint activities. Parent sessions will be led by Dr. Kane using the Ardmore Full Plate Living curriculum. Adolescent sessions will be led by Drs. Mauney and Bushard using the SPARK Wellness Program. Each SMA will integrate nutrition education, behavioral health support, and goal setting tailored to the patient and family needs.
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
RECRUITINGTufts University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
RECRUITINGChange in BMI z-score
Measured using standardized CDC growth charts, obtained from EMR-recorded height and weight at in-person visits. Weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m\^2)
Time frame: Baseline to 12 months
Change in absolute BMI and waist circumference
Collected from EHR, weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m\^2.
Time frame: Baseline to 12 months and 18 months (6-month post-program follow-up).
Laboratory measures (ALT)
Collected from EHR, venipuncture for blood collection through Tufts Medical Center (LabCorp)
Time frame: Baseline to 12 months
Laboratory measures (hemoglobin A1C)
Collected from EHR, venipuncture for blood collection through Tufts Medical Center (LabCorp)
Time frame: Baseline to 12 months
Laboratory measures (lipid panel)
Collected from EHR, venipuncture for blood collection through Tufts Medical Center (LabCorp)
Time frame: Baseline to 12 months
Change in physical activity
Measured by questions adapted from: \- Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents 7-day recall, 1-5 scale Kowalski, K. C., Crocker, P. R. E., \& Faulkner, R. A. (2004). The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) and Adolescents (PAQ-A) Manual. College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan
Time frame: Baseline to 12 months
Change in media use
Measured by questions adapted from: \- Cumulative Media Use Index Higher cumulative score on this index has been heavily associated with negative outcomes Score of 0: Low media exposure across all environments. Score of 1-2: Moderate or isolated media risk. Score of 3-4: High-risk, "media-heavy ecology" Linebarger, D. L., et al. (2014). Associations between parenting, media use, cumulative risk, and children's executive functioning. Journal of Developmental \& Behavioral Pediatrics, 35(6), 367-377
Time frame: Baseline to 12 months
Change in sleep
Measured by questions adapted from: \- Short Form Children's Sleep Habits questionnaire Each question is rated on a 3-point scale based on how often the behavior occurs, total Score greater than 30 on the SF-CSHQ indicates behavioral sleep issues. Owens, J. A., Spirito, A., \& McGuinn, M. (2000). The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ): psychometric properties of a survey instrument for school-aged children. Journal of American Academy of Child \& Adolescent Psychiatry, 39(12), 1546-1553.
Time frame: Baseline to 12 months
Change in health-related quality of life
Based on PedsQL child and parent reports
Time frame: Baseline to 12 months
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