Obesity, ChildhoodMAGICNCT04177472
Mothers And careGivers Investing in Children
A study testing Obesity Prevention Group, Obesity Prevention Group + Food Boxes and Infant Safety and Injury Prevention Group in people with Obesity, Childhood and Parenting, run by University of Texas at Austin at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The incidence of childhood obesity in the United States has steadily increased over the past 30 years but has begun to level off in recent years. Epidemiological evidence indicates that obesity may transmitted across multiple generations. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 0 to 90 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Obesity, Childhood, Parenting
- What is being tested?
- Obesity Prevention Group, Obesity Prevention Group + Food Boxes and Infant Safety and Injury Prevention Group
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 165 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 14 Nov 2019to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 0 to 90 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Mothers with babies aged 4 to 5 months
- Other caregivers assisting the mother with the baby.
- Babies aged 4 to 5 months
Who cannot join
- Babies with metabolic or feeding issues.
- Mothers younger than 16 years of age.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
Sarah M. & Charles E. Seay Building
Austin, Texas, 78712
Dell Pediatric Research Institute
Austin, Texas, 78723
About this study
Official title: MAGIC: A Family Based Feeding Intervention Program
The incidence of childhood obesity in the United States has steadily increased over the past 30 years but has begun to level off in recent years. Epidemiological evidence indicates that obesity may transmitted across multiple generations. The current study seeks to: 1) evaluate the extent to which mothers and other important caregivers affect their mothers' parenting; 2) examine whether an intervention aimed at improving diet quality and enhancing responsive feeding to improves parental responsivity and feeding behavior and infants' weight trajectories over time; 3) examine the effects of early life feeding and caregiver sensitivity on health and development; and 4) examine feasibility of food distribution along with the feeding intervention.
Read the detailed description
The incidence of childhood obesity in the United States has steadily increased over the past 30 years, but has begun to level off in recent years. Children from minority groups may be disproportionately affected, such that Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children have greater weight for recumbent length compared to White children. Similarly, socioeconomic status (SES) may affect child weight status. Epidemiological evidence indicates that obesity may transmitted across multiple generations. Genetics are a factor in determining weight status, but parents are largely responsible for regulating children's dietary environments. Grandparents increasingly provide care for their grandchildren, yet few studies have examined grandparent involvement or the role that grandparents or other significant caregivers play in feeding the child.
The objective of the current study is two-fold: 1) to evaluate the extent to which mothers and other caregivers affect mothers' parenting surrounding feeding their infant, beginning when the infant is first introduced to solid foods; and 2) to examine whether an intervention aimed at providing both mothers and and other important caregivers with hands-on training regarding healthy foods and responsive and sensitive feeding behaviors improves mothers' and other caregivers' responsive and sensitive behaviors and infants' weight trajectories over time. The researchers will collect both self-report data on diet, child temperament, mothers and caregiver mental health, stress and support. Observational assessments will be obtained to code co-caregiver behavior and caregiver responsiveness during feeding.
- Conditions
- Obesity, Childhood, Parenting
- Being tested
- Obesity Prevention Group, Obesity Prevention Group + Food Boxes, Infant Safety and Injury Prevention Group
- Keywords
- nutrition, parenting, intergenerational feeding influences, sensitive feeding
- Medical subject headings
- Pediatric Obesity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Obesity Prevention GroupBehavioural
Parents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options.
Obesity Prevention Group + Food BoxesBehavioural
Parents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options. Parents will also be provided with grocery items (fruits, vegetables, meat) prior to each intervention visit to facilitate a healthy family diet.
Infant Safety and Injury Prevention GroupBehavioural
Parents will be provided with information about safe sleeping, car seats, baby-proofing, etc., delivered during home visits, newsletters, and reinforcing text messages.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Obesity Prevention Group | Experimental | Parents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options. Receives: Behavioral: Obesity Prevention Group |
| Infant Safety and Injury Prevention Group | Active comparator | Parents will be provided with information about safe sleeping, car seats, baby-proofing, etc., delivered during virtual visits, participant binder and newsletter. Receives: Behavioral: Infant Safety and Injury Prevention Group |
| Obesity Prevention Group + Food Boxes | Experimental | Parents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options. Parents will also be provided with grocery items (fruits, vegetables, meat) prior to each intervention visit to facilitate a healthy family diet. Receives: Behavioral: Obesity Prevention Group + Food Boxes |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
BMI percentile at 12 months of age
Anthropometrics measured by trained study staff
Measured: 12 months
BMI percentile at 24 months of age
Anthropometrics measured by trained study staff
Measured: 24 months
Secondary outcomes (2)
Proportion of infants with BMI percentile >85th at 12 months of age
Anthropometrics measured by trained study staff
Measured: 12 months
Proportion of infants with BMI percentile >85th at 24 months of age
Anthropometrics measured by trained study staff
Measured: 24 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Nov 2019
- Study start14 Nov 2019
- Primary completion31 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Obesity, ChildhoodStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Texas at AustinThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 165 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Texas at Austin
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- St. David's Foundation, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, Egg Nutrition Center, National Pork Board
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Deborah Jacobvitz, University of Texas at Austin
- Investigators
- Deborah Jacobvitz, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Texas at AustinElizabeth Widen, PhD, RD, Principal investigator, University of Texas at Austin
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04177472
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UT Austin IRB#2015040017
- Acronym
- MAGIC
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Oct 2019
- Last updated
- 28 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- MAGIC: A Family Based Feeding Intervention Program
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04177472
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MAGIC / UT Austin IRB#2015040017
- Conditions
- Obesity, Childhood, Parenting
- Keywords
- nutrition, parenting, intergenerational feeding influences, sensitive feeding
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 165 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Texas at AustinUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- St. David's Foundation, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, Egg Nutrition Center, National Pork Board
- Study start
- 14 Nov 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 26 Nov 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The incidence of childhood obesity in the United States has steadily increased over the past 30 years but has begun to level off in recent years. Epidemiological evidence indicates that obesity may transmitted across multiple generations. The current study seeks to: 1) evaluate the extent to which mothers and other important caregivers affect their mothers' parenting; 2) examine whether an intervention aimed at improving diet quality and enhancing responsive feeding to improves parental responsivity and feeding behavior and infants' weight trajectories over time; 3) examine the effects of early life feeding and caregiver sensitivity on health and development; and 4) examine feasibility of food distribution along with the feeding intervention.
Detailed description
The incidence of childhood obesity in the United States has steadily increased over the past 30 years, but has begun to level off in recent years. Children from minority groups may be disproportionately affected, such that Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children have greater weight for recumbent length compared to White children. Similarly, socioeconomic status (SES) may affect child weight status. Epidemiological evidence indicates that obesity may transmitted across multiple generations. Genetics are a factor in determining weight status, but parents are largely responsible for regulating children's dietary environments. Grandparents increasingly provide care for their grandchildren, yet few studies have examined grandparent involvement or the role that grandparents or other significant caregivers play in feeding the child.
The objective of the current study is two-fold: 1) to evaluate the extent to which mothers and other caregivers affect mothers' parenting surrounding feeding their infant, beginning when the infant is first introduced to solid foods; and 2) to examine whether an intervention aimed at providing both mothers and and other important caregivers with hands-on training regarding healthy foods and responsive and sensitive feeding behaviors improves mothers' and other caregivers' responsive and sensitive behaviors and infants' weight trajectories over time. The researchers will collect both self-report data on diet, child temperament, mothers and caregiver mental health, stress and support. Observational assessments will be obtained to code co-caregiver behavior and caregiver responsiveness during feeding.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Obesity Prevention Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Obesity Prevention GroupParents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options. |
| Infant Safety and Injury Prevention Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Infant Safety and Injury Prevention GroupParents will be provided with information about safe sleeping, car seats, baby-proofing, etc., delivered during virtual visits, participant binder and newsletter. |
| Obesity Prevention Group + Food Boxes | Experimental | Behavioral: Obesity Prevention Group + Food BoxesParents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options. Parents will also be provided with grocery items (fruits, vegetables, meat) prior to each intervention visit to facilitate a healthy family diet. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 0 to 90 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Mothers with babies aged 4 to 5 months
- Other caregivers assisting the mother with the baby.
- Babies aged 4 to 5 months
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Babies with metabolic or feeding issues.
- Mothers younger than 16 years of age.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Obesity Prevention GroupParents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options. | Behavioural | Obesity Prevention Group |
| Obesity Prevention Group + Food BoxesParents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options. Parents will also be provided with grocery items (fruits, vegetables, meat) prior to each intervention visit to facilitate a healthy family diet. | Behavioural | Obesity Prevention Group + Food Boxes |
| Infant Safety and Injury Prevention GroupParents will be provided with information about safe sleeping, car seats, baby-proofing, etc., delivered during home visits, newsletters, and reinforcing text messages. | Behavioural | Infant Safety and Injury Prevention Group |
Primary outcome
BMI percentile at 12 months of age
Time frame: 12 months
Anthropometrics measured by trained study staff
BMI percentile at 24 months of age
Time frame: 24 months
Anthropometrics measured by trained study staff
2 secondary outcomes
Proportion of infants with BMI percentile >85th at 12 months of age
Time frame: 12 months
Proportion of infants with BMI percentile >85th at 24 months of age
Time frame: 24 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Apr 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Deborah Jacobvitz, PhD principal investigator
University of Texas at Austin
Elizabeth Widen, PhD, RD principal investigator
University of Texas at Austin
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Obesity Prevention Group, Obesity Prevention Group + Food Boxes and Infant Safety and Injury Prevention Group in people with Obesity, Childhood and Parenting, run by University of Texas at Austin at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
BMI percentile at 12 months of age (time frame: 12 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Apr 2026.