2024
Improving access to first‐line treatment for pediatric obesity: Lessons from the dissemination of SmartMoves
Finn E, Keller C, Gowey M, Savoye M, Samuels S, Fleisch A, Rogers V, Grey M, Damschroder L, Beck A, Sharifi M. Improving access to first‐line treatment for pediatric obesity: Lessons from the dissemination of SmartMoves. Obesity 2024, 32: 1745-1756. PMID: 39192771, DOI: 10.1002/oby.24107.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsConstant comparative methodInterviewed key informantsHealth behaviorsObesity programsSufficient staffingInsufficient staffingPediatric obesityFunding insecurityLifestyle treatmentImprove accessOrganizational prioritiesProgram componentsProgram fitPromote fidelityKey informantsUS sitesIncreased prevalenceAdequate fundingSurvey findingsStaffingParticipantsInterviewsCOVID-19 pandemicDominant barriersObesity
2022
Keys to Achieving Clinically Important Weight Loss: Perceptions of Responders and Nonresponders in the Clinic and Community Approaches to Healthy Weight Trial
Fay C, Castro I, Velez D, Ruggiero C, O'Connor G, Perkins M, Luo M, Sharifi M, Mini F, Taveras E, Kuhlthau K, Fiechtner L. Keys to Achieving Clinically Important Weight Loss: Perceptions of Responders and Nonresponders in the Clinic and Community Approaches to Healthy Weight Trial. Childhood Obesity 2022, 19: 507-514. PMID: 36315223, PMCID: PMC10698771, DOI: 10.1089/chi.2022.0112.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPediatric weight management interventionsBody mass index improvementWeight management interventionsImportant weight lossUnmet social needsPerspectives of caregiversHealthy weightHealth behaviorsNonrespondersSemistructured guideThematic saturationWeight lossWeight stigmaRespondersMindful eating
2021
Changes in Weight-Related Health Behaviors and Social Determinants of Health among Youth with Overweight/Obesity during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Hu P, Samuels S, Maciejewski KR, Li F, Aloe C, Van Name M, Savoye M, Sharifi M. Changes in Weight-Related Health Behaviors and Social Determinants of Health among Youth with Overweight/Obesity during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Childhood Obesity 2021, 18: 369-382. PMID: 34919458, PMCID: PMC9492789, DOI: 10.1089/chi.2021.0196.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOverweight/obesityWeight-related health behaviorsHealth behaviorsSocial determinantsExact testObesity-related comorbiditiesCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemicRecreational screen timeVigorous physical activityFisher's exact testMultivariable regression modelsDisease 2019 pandemicStress Scale scoresBehavior changeHigher caregiver stressPhysical activityFood insecurityScale scoreAdolescents 13Caregiver stressObesityScreen timePsychosocial stressorsMost mealsHealth disparities
2016
Design and rationale of the STRIVE trial to improve cardiometabolic health among children and families
Oreskovic NM, Fletcher R, Sharifi M, Knutsen JD, Chilingirian A, Taveras EM. Design and rationale of the STRIVE trial to improve cardiometabolic health among children and families. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2016, 49: 149-154. PMID: 27417980, PMCID: PMC4969164, DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2016.07.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth behaviorsSTRIVE trialPhysical activityPopulation-wide burdenChildren's health behaviorsObjective physical activityIntervention group parentsUse of mHealthScreen time dataCardiometabolic healthCardiometabolic riskWireless scaleCare recommendationsClinical recommendationsBeverage consumptionScreen timeGroup parentsTrialsAge 6Risk familiesControl parentsChildrenSleepRiskBehavior change
2015
Connect for Health: Design of a clinical-community childhood obesity intervention testing best practices of positive outliers
Taveras EM, Marshall R, Sharifi M, Avalon E, Fiechtner L, Horan C, Orav J, Price SN, Sequist T, Slater D. Connect for Health: Design of a clinical-community childhood obesity intervention testing best practices of positive outliers. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2015, 45: 287-295. PMID: 26427562, PMCID: PMC4753774, DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2015.09.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexObesity-related outcomesHealth coachesHealth StudyOne-year intervention periodHealth-related qualityChildhood obesity interventionsChild-reported outcomesAge-associated increaseParents/guardiansCommunity resourcesIntervention armMass indexYear old childrenCommunity-level resourcesObesity interventionsIntervention periodHealth coachingTwo-armPediatric carePediatric practiceSupport modalitiesHealth behaviorsControl groupVirtual visitsFood Environments and Childhood Weight Status: Effects of Neighborhood Median Income
Fiechtner L, Sharifi M, Sequist T, Block J, Duncan DT, Melly SJ, Rifas-Shiman SL, Taveras EM. Food Environments and Childhood Weight Status: Effects of Neighborhood Median Income. Childhood Obesity 2015, 11: 260-268. PMID: 25923838, PMCID: PMC4559156, DOI: 10.1089/chi.2014.0139.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBMI z-scoreLower BMI z-scoreNeighborhood median incomeZ-scoreHigher BMI z-scoreAdverse effectsChildhood weight statusPotential effect modificationFood environmentFood establishmentsLow-income neighborhoodsFull-service restaurantsElectronic health recordsMedian incomePrimary outcomeMultivariable analysisPatient's residenceEffect modificationWeight statusHealth behaviorsHealth recordsFast foodConvenience storesStrong adverse effectsObesity
2014
Exploring Innovative Approaches and Patient-Centered Outcomes From Positive Outliers in Childhood Obesity
Sharifi M, Marshall G, Goldman R, Rifas-Shiman SL, Horan CM, Koziol R, Marshall R, Sequist TD, Taveras EM. Exploring Innovative Approaches and Patient-Centered Outcomes From Positive Outliers in Childhood Obesity. Academic Pediatrics 2014, 14: 646-655. PMID: 25439163, PMCID: PMC4322896, DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2014.08.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexChildhood obesityHeight/weight dataWell-child careImmersion/crystallization approachHealth care professionalsElectronic health recordsMassachusetts childrenExercise intoleranceMass indexSubsample of childrenObesity interventionsObesity preventionCare professionalsFocus groupsHigh-risk neighborhoodsFocus group transcriptsHealth behaviorsChild inactivityClinical settingThematic saturationOutlier familiesParent modelingHealth recordsAge 6
2013
Leveraging Text Messaging and Mobile Technology to Support Pediatric Obesity-Related Behavior Change: A Qualitative Study Using Parent Focus Groups and Interviews
Sharifi M, Dryden EM, Horan CM, Price S, Marshall R, Hacker K, Finkelstein JA, Taveras EM. Leveraging Text Messaging and Mobile Technology to Support Pediatric Obesity-Related Behavior Change: A Qualitative Study Using Parent Focus Groups and Interviews. Journal Of Medical Internet Research 2013, 15: e272. PMID: 24317406, PMCID: PMC3869083, DOI: 10.2196/jmir.2780.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsText messagingBehavior changeParents of overweightChildren's health behaviorsTimes/weekDiverse race/ethnicityText-based interventionsFocus groupsSample text messagesSemistructured discussion guideRace/ethnicityObese childrenParental acceptabilityPediatric obesityFramework analysis approachText messagesChild's doctorHealth behaviorsHealthy behaviorsTelephone interviewsThematic saturationParent focus groupsParental perceptionsAccelerating Progress in Reducing Childhood Obesity Disparities: Exploring Best Practices of Positive Outliers
Sharifi M, Marshall G, Marshall R, Bottino C, Goldman R, Sequist T, Taveras EM. Accelerating Progress in Reducing Childhood Obesity Disparities: Exploring Best Practices of Positive Outliers. Journal Of Health Care For The Poor And Underserved 2013, 24: 193-199. PMID: 23727974, DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2013.0099.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersConceptsChildhood obesityChildhood obesity disparitiesU.S. population subgroupsBody mass indexChildhood obesity ratesMass indexObesity interventionsObesity disparitiesHealth behaviorsObesity ratesSocioeconomic disparitiesPopulation subgroupsOverall rateObesitySuccessful strategyDisparitiesPositive outliersBest practices