(OR07-05-23) The Effects of Using the Baby-Feed Web Application on Diet Quality and Weight Gain in Infants in the Healthcare Setting

Objectives: Nutrition is a key component in early childhood obesity prevention and it is important to develop more tools for healthcare providers and parents that target healthy eating in infants. This study assessed the efficacy of Baby-Feed, an online tool that easily evaluates infant diet quality and provides immediate feedback to improve feeding practices and weight gain.

Methods: Two healthcare providers and 50 parents with infants aged 4-12 months were recruited from a Miami community health center during well-child visits; 25 were randomized to the intervention (access to Baby-Feed) and 25 to the control group (no access). All participants completed the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) validated for infants and reported their infant’s weight and length at baseline. The intervention group had access via Baby-Feed to immediate feedback from the FFQ and discussed the results with their healthcare provider. Baby-Feed also provided the recommended amounts of each food group (milks, grains, proteins, vegetables, fruits, sugary drinks, and snacks), and the intervention group was asked to track their weekly progress with the recommendations using their cell phones. At the next well-child visit about 3 months later, all participants completed the FFQ again and reported their infant’s weight and length. Diet was assessed by improvements in food group intake and the Diet Quality Index Score (DQIS). Weight-for-length z-score was calculated at each visit and the rate of weight gain was categorized as rapid, healthy, or slow.

Results: Forty-six participants with similar characteristics completed the study (n=23 intervention and n=23 control). Most were mothers (92%), mean age 30.9 years, Hispanic (86%), and WIC participants (86%). The mean age of infants was 8.1 months and 54% were boys. The intervention group had more diet improvements (mean 1.73 vs. 1.00; p=0.018), less negative change in the DQIS (mean -2.95 vs. -7.69; p=0.039), and a higher proportion of infants with a healthy weight gain (95% vs. 58%; p=0.006) compared to the control.

Conclusions: Using Baby-Feed during well-child visits and in-between improved infant diets and the rate of weight gain compared to usual care. This online tool for healthcare providers and parents could be used in a larger-scale randomized control trial as a tool for early childhood obesity prevention.

Funding Sources: The Children’s Trust