Family Eats: Cancer Prevention for Families

描述（由申请人提供）：尽管所有种族的个体癌症负担都很高，但癌症发病率和死亡率存在种族差异。与白色人群相比，非洲裔美国人患某些癌症的发病率更高，死亡率比其他人群高至少40%。肥胖、高脂肪、低水果（F）和蔬菜（V）摄入量会增加癌症风险。癌症可能会在很长一段时间内发展，有些可能在儿童时期开始;因此，在儿童时期促进FV和防止体重过度增加可能是癌症保护。家庭通过直接模仿饮食行为、围绕食物的养育技巧和控制家庭食物环境来影响儿童的饮食行为。然而，很少有干预研究集中在家庭对饮食行为的影响，特别是在少数民族群体中，可能在文化和家庭功能的其他方面有所不同。不幸的是，基于社区的家庭干预措施的参与率很低，这表明需要调查替代干预措施的提供系统。互联网提供了家庭访问的便利。在之前的R21应用程序中，主要研究者开发了一个八节互动式基于网络的程序，为有9-12岁女儿的非裔美国人家庭促进健康的家庭食品环境（家庭饮食）。家庭饮食的可行性进行了评估，并获得了中介变量的变化。该应用程序将测试家庭饮食网络程序在400个AA家庭9-10岁儿童中改善FV和饮食脂肪行为和体重结果的功效。这项重要的研究将开辟一个新的渠道，为非洲裔美国人家庭的行为改变干预，并有望达到大量的儿童及其家庭，使所有人都能采取健康的饮食行为，实现能量平衡，降低癌症风险。公共卫生相关性：通过互联网为非洲裔美国人家庭提供的健康饮食和肥胖预防的有效干预措施有望帮助减少癌症的风险因素。互联网的便利性将使大量家庭能够参与并学习采取健康饮食行为的技能，从而降低癌症风险。这是一种成本相对较低的改善健康和生活质量的方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Although the burden of cancer is high among individuals of all ethnicities, ethnic differences in cancer incidence and mortality exist. African-Americans experience a higher incidence of certain cancers compared with the White population, with mortality rates at least 40% higher than other populations. Obesity, high fat, and low fruit (F) and vegetable (V) intakes increase cancer risks. Cancers may develop over a long period of time, with some possibly initiating in childhood; therefore, promoting FV and preventing excess weight gain during childhood could be cancer protective. Families influence children's dietary behaviors by direct modeling of dietary behaviors, parenting skills around food, and controlling the home food environment. However, few intervention studies have focused on family influences on dietary behaviors, particularly among ethnic minority groups which may differ in cultural and other aspects of family functioning. Unfortunately, low participation rates for community-based family interventions suggest that alternate intervention delivery systems be investigated. The internet provides family access within the convenience of the home. In a previous R21 application, the Principal Investigator developed an eight-session interactive web-based program promoting a healthy home food environment for African-American families with 9-12 year old daughters (Family Eats). Family Eats was evaluated for feasibility and changes in mediating variables were obtained. This application will test the efficacy of the Family Eats web program to improve FV and dietary fat behavior and weight outcomes among 400 AA families with 9-10 year old children. This important study will pioneer a new channel for behavior change intervention with African-American families and holds the promise of reaching large numbers of children and their families, enabling all to adopt healthy eating behaviors and achieve energy balance and reduce cancer risks. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: A proven intervention for healthy eating and obesity prevention, delivered via the internet for African-American families, holds the promise of helping reduce risk factors for cancer. The convenience of the internet will enable large numbers of families to participate and learn skills to adopt healthy eating behaviors that will reduce cancer risk. This is a relatively low cost method for improving health and quality of life.