Dr. Francis will describe the formative evaluation, design, and results of a community-engaged, childhood obesity preventive intervention developed using the multiphase optimization strategy. She will also share both triumphs and challenges experienced in the field, as well as the magic pill for successfully managing a large clinical trial.
Preventing the development of childhood obesity requires multilevel, multicomponent, comprehensive approaches. Study designs often do not allow for systematic evaluation of the efficacy of individual intervention components before the intervention is fully tested. As such, childhood obesity prevention programs may contain a mix of effective and ineffective components.
About the Speaker
Dr. Francis’ research focuses on sociocultural factors influencing the development of obesity in low-income and minority children, including family environment, neighborhood characteristics, and socioeconomic status; family-based interventions to reduce and prevent obesity and related morbidities in children; understanding biobehavioral, family environmental, and cultural factors that influence self-regulation of energy intake and body weight in young children.
