HomeGrown Program to Support Healthy Eating and Activity in Young Children With Down Syndrome

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the HomeGrown program, a family-based lifestyle intervention designed to improve nutrition and physical activity among young children aged 2 to 6 years with Down syndrome. This study aims to advance health equity by tailoring support specifically to the needs of these families, addressing a gap where most existing programs focus on typically developing children. The trial includes two phases an initial feasibility assessment followed by an efficacy evaluation. Participants are randomly assigned to either the HomeGrown intervention group or a waitlist control group, with the latter receiving the program after a 6-month delay. The HomeGrown program consists of a family orientation session, access to an interactive web application with tools and resources, and monthly support calls from a trained health educator over 6 months. The waitlist group receives a 1-hour training on a different website during the study period. Families will be involved through baseline and 6-month follow-up assessments measuring enrollment rates, participant engagement with the program, and retention. The study also tracks changes in child physical activity and diet quality. Researchers will monitor how well families use the program components and complete outcome assessments, aiming to support future health promotion efforts for children with Down syndrome. Total participation lasts for 6 months with data collected at specified time points.

HomeGrown: A Family-based Lifestyle Intervention to Support Healthy Development of Young Children With Down Syndrome