Web-Based Active Balance Childhood Study in Chinese-American

The proposed study will use a randomized experimental design to examine the effects of an individually tailored, Internet-based behavioral intervention program on improving health behavior (dietary intake and physical activity) and anthropometrics of Chinese-American children. A total of 60 children and their families will be recruited. The intervention will include a weekly Internet session tailored to each individual child for eight weeks and three Internet sessions for parents. Children and their parents in the control group will receive general health information on healthy eating, active lifestyles, dental care, smoking cessation, and risk taking issues via the Internet. The content of the sessions is described later. After informed consent is obtained from parents and verbal assent from the children, baseline data (T0) will be collected before assigning the children and parents to the intervention group or control group. Follow-up data for both groups will be collected at 2 months (T1), 4 months (T2) and 6 months (T3) after baseline.

Inclusion criteria

Children:

• children between the ages of 10 and 14 years old who self-identify as Chinese or of Chinese origin
• reside in the Bay Area in the same household as at least one parent, can read and speak English, and have access to the Internet at home

Parents:

• parents who self-identify as Chinese or of Chinese origin
• have children between the ages of 11 and 14
• are able to read either Chinese or English
• are able to speak Mandarin, Cantonese, or English
• have access to the Internet at home

Exclusion criteria

• children with chronic health problems that include any dietary modifications or activity limitations will be excluded (e.g., diabetes, exercise-induced asthma)