Mother-Centric Motivational Interviewing for Behavioral Change and Obesity Prevention in Preschool-Aged Children in Bangladesh: A Pilot Study

IntroductionChildhood obesity is a rising public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Bangladesh, where the rate of obesity in children has increased. South Asian countries, traditionally burdened by undernutrition, now face a growing challenge of obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a mother-centric Motivational Interviewing (MI) intervention on childhood obesity prevention and behavioral outcomes in preschool-aged children in Bangladesh. MethodsA quasi-experimental, pre-post intervention study was conducted in Jamalpur district town between June 2023 and January 2024. The intervention comprised two school-based MI counseling sessions for mothers, while the control group received a general health education session except for obesity. Behavioral and anthropometric data were collected at baseline and after eight months. The primary analysis employed Difference-in-Differences (DID) regression to estimate intervention effects, using ordered probit and OLS models for categorical and continuous outcomes, respectively. ResultsThe intervention significantly improved physical activity frequency ({beta} = 0.661, p < 0.05), sleep quality ({beta} = 1.090, p < 0.05), and reduced mothers screen time ({beta} = -1.102, p < 0.10). No significant changes were observed in dietary behaviors, childrens screen use, or anthropometric indicators (WAZ, HAZ, BAZ). Parallel trend violations in some variables may limit causal inference. ConclusionThe MI-based intervention led to positive behavioral changes, particularly in physical activity and sleep quality, among children and mothers. However, it did not result in significant improvements in anthropometric outcomes, likely due to the short intervention period, high dropout rate, and small sample size. This study suggests that MI interventions, when culturally adapted, hold promise for promoting healthier lifestyles in LMICs, but further research with longer follow-up is needed to observe lasting impacts on obesity prevention.