Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of participants.
| Variable | Comparison group (n=44) | Intervention group (n=42) | All (n=86) | |
| Child (sex), n (%) | ||||
|
|
Male | 19 (43) | 24 (57) | 43 (50) |
|
|
Female | 25 (57) | 18 (43) | 43 (50) |
| Child age (months), mean (SD) | 43 (12.26) | 40 (9.65) | 42 (11.05) | |
| Child age (years), mean (SD) | 3.55 (1.02) | 3.36 (0.80) | 3.46 (0.92) | |
| Child body mass index (BMI), mean (SD) | 16.72 (0.92) | 17.28 (1.44) | 17.01 (1.24) | |
| Child weight statusa, n (%) | ||||
|
|
Healthy weight | 38 (86) | 40 (95) | 78 (91) |
|
|
Overweight | 5 (11) | 2 (5) | 7 (8) |
|
|
Obese | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) |
| Median BMI percentile range | 85 to ≤95 | 75 to ≤85 | 75 to ≤85 | |
| Child aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander status, n (%) | ||||
|
|
Aboriginal | 4 (9) | 1 (2) | 5 (6) |
|
|
Torres Strait Islander | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
|
|
No | 39 (89) | 40 (95) | 79 (92) |
|
|
Not answered | 1 (2) | 1 (2) | 2 (2) |
| Participating parent’s sex, n (%) | ||||
|
|
Male | 1 (2) | 2 (5) | 3 (3) |
|
|
Female | 43 (98) | 40 (95) | 83 (97) |
| Participating parent’s age, mean (SD) | 34.91 (4.68) | 35.45 (4.95) | 35.17 (4.80) | |
| Highest level of education of the participating parent, n (%) | ||||
|
|
Not university qualified | 22 (50) | 8 (19) | 30 (35) |
|
|
University qualified | 22 (50) | 32 (76) | 54 (63) |
|
|
Currently studying | 0 (0) | 2 (5) | 2 (2) |
| Participating parent’s income after tax (Aus $), n (%) | ||||
|
|
<$580/week | 23 (52) | 20 (48) | 43 (50) |
|
|
$580-$1240/week | 15 (34) | 16 (38) | 31 (36) |
|
|
>$1240/week | 6 (14) | 6 (14) | 12 (14) |
| BMI of participating parent, mean (SD) | 27.38 (21.61) | 24.81 (4.64) | 26.08 (5.97) | |
| Weight status of participating parent, n (%) | ||||
|
|
Underweight | 1 (2) | 1 (2) | 2 (2) |
|
|
Healthy weight | 15 (34) | 26 (62) | 42 (49) |
|
|
Overweight | 13 (30) | 9 (21) | 22 (26) |
|
|
Obese | 11 (25) | 6 (14) | 17 (20) |
|
|
Not answered | 3 (7) | 0 (0) | 3 (3) |
| Aboriginal status of participating parent, n (%) | ||||
|
|
Aboriginal | 2 (4.55) | 1 (2.38) | 3 (3.49) |
|
|
No | 41 (88.64) | 40 (95.24) | 81 (94.19) |
|
|
Not answered | 1 (2.27) | 1 (2.38) | 2 (2.33) |
| Participating parent’s relationship with child, n (%) | ||||
|
|
Biological mother | 41 (93) | 39 (93) | 80 (93) |
|
|
Biological father | 2 (5) | 2 (5) | 4 (5) |
|
|
Other | 1 (2) | 1 (2) | 2 (2) |
| Marital status of participating parent, n (%) | ||||
|
|
Single/divorced/separated/widowed | 10 (23) | 3 (7) | 13 (15) |
|
|
Married/with partner | 34 (77) | 39 (93) | 73 (85) |
| BMI of other parent, mean (SD) | 27.61 (4.51) | 28.24 (6.72) | 27.95 (5.76) | |
| Weight status of other parent, n (%) | ||||
|
|
Underweight | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
|
|
Healthy weight | 9 (20) | 15 (36) | 24 (28) |
|
|
Overweight | 13 (30) | 9 (21) | 22 (26) |
|
|
Obese | 9 (20) | 11 (26) | 20 (23) |
|
|
No answer/not applicable | 13 (30) | 7 (17) | 19 (22) |
| Income of other parent (Aus $), n (%) | ||||
|
|
<$580/week | 6 (14) | 5 (12) | 11 (13) |
|
|
$580-$1240/week | 20 (45) | 19 (45) | 39 (45) |
|
|
>$1240/week | 9 (20) | 15 (36) | 24 (28) |
|
|
No answer/not applicable | 9 (20) | 3 (7) | 12 (14) |
| Language spoken at home, n (%) | ||||
|
|
English | 40 (91) | 37 (88) | 77 (90) |
|
|
Other | 4 (9) | 5 (12) | 9 (10) |
| Found out about the program, n (%) | ||||
|
|
Early childhood education center | 18 (41) | 16 (38) | 34 (40) |
|
|
Flyer | 5 (11) | 7 (17) | 12 (14) |
|
|
Early childhood nurse/center | 2 (5) | 5 (12) | 7 (8) |
|
|
0 (0) | 4 (10) | 4 (5) | |
|
|
School newsletter | 2 (5) | 1 (2) | 3 (3) |
|
|
Media (print, television, and radio) | 2 (5) | 1 (2) | 3 (3) |
|
|
Social media | 5 (11) | 4 (10) | 9 (10) |
|
|
Playgroup | 3 (7) | 0 (0) | 3 (3) |
|
|
Other | 7 (16) | 4 (10) | 11 (13) |
aWorld Health Organization definition [1].