TOPLINE:

A 2-year telephone-based intervention providing nurse-led support calls and short message service (SMS) to mothers was associated with a reduced BMI in children aged up to 5 years, with the greatest benefit seen in those from lower-income families.

METHODOLOGY:

Telehealth became crucial during the COVID pandemic when face-to-face health programs were suspended; however, evidence on the effectiveness of telephone- and SMS-based obesity interventions for preschool-aged children and their caregivers has been lacking.

Researchers conducted an extension study of a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a 2-year telephone-based intervention in reducing BMI and improving health behaviors among preschool-aged children.

Originally, 662 mother-child pairs (children aged 2-

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