This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of TEXT2COPE, a cognitive behavioral intervention combining face-to-face support with tailored SMS text messaging to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors among families of overweight or obese preschool-aged children. Fifteen parent-preschooler dyads recruited through pediatric primary care clinics participated in a 7-week cognitive behavioral skills-building intervention. Text messages were personalized to individual families, with parents able to determine message wording and adjust the frequency and timing of delivery. The intervention demonstrated significant improvements in parents’ knowledge of nutrition and physical activity, beliefs about healthy lifestyles, and behaviors related to making healthy lifestyle choices for their children. Participants also demonstrated strong engagement with the tailored messaging, with 69% of parents increasing the frequency of messages from once weekly to as many as five times per week. The findings suggested that combining cognitive behavioral support with tailored SMS messaging was feasible and acceptable and had potential to support the care of overweight and obese preschool children and their families.
Publications
August 18, 2026