The Effects of a 2-year Individualized and Family-based Lifestyle Intervention on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Diet in Children

Abstract Objective To investigate the effects of a long-term, individualized and family-based lifestyle intervention on physical activity, sedentary behavior and diet quality in children. Methods We carried out a 2-year intervention study in a population sample of 506 children aged 6–8 years in Finland in 2007–2012. We allocated the participants at baseline in the intervention and control group. We assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior by questionnaires and diet by food records. Results Total physical activity (+ 9 min/d in intervention group vs. − 5 min/d in control group, p = 0.001 for time*group interaction), unsupervised physical activity (+ 7 min/d vs. − 9 min/d, p  Conclusions Individualized and family-based lifestyle intervention increased physical activity, attenuated increase in sedentary behavior and enhanced diet quality in children. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT01803776.