Table 1

Outcomes and subgroups

Variable Definition/explanatory text/examples*
Primary outcome 
 BMI z-score at age 24 months (±6 months)Determined in accordance with WHO growth standards60
Secondary outcomes 
 BMI z-score at 12 months (±3 months)Determined in accordance with WHO growth standards60
 BMI z-score at 48 months (±12 months)Determined in accordance with WHO growth standards60
 BMI z-score beyond 60 monthsDetermined in accordance with WHO growth standards60
 Other weight-related measuresFor example, prevalence of overweight/obesity (defined as BMI z-score of at least 2 SD above the WHO reference), per cent fat content/ adiposity, skinfold thickness, abdominal circumference, waist-to-height ratio, velocity of weight gain, weight-for-length, per cent excess BMI >95th percentile, adiposity rebound
 Infant feedingFor example, breast feeding initiation and duration, exclusivity of breast feeding, age at introduction of solid foods (complementary feeding)
 Dietary intakeFor example, energy intake, intake of fruit, vegetables, energy dense nutrient poor foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages
 Sedentary behavioursFor example, screen time, restrained time while awake (in prams/strollers, high-chairs, strapped on a caregiver’s back or chest)
 Physical activityFor example, active play duration, prone play (‘tummy time’), device assessed physical activity time
 SleepFor example, sleep duration, measures of sleep quality such as frequency and duration of waking at night
 Parental/caregiver measuresGeneral and domain-specific parenting styles and practices, for example, parenting self-efficacy, parenting styles, parent feeding practices, parent physical activity practices, parent sleep practices, stress
 Adverse eventsFor example, underweight, injuries, infection
Individual-level subgroups
 Socioeconomic positionFor example, household income/country median household income, parent/caregiver highest education level, employment status
 Parental weight statusFor example, maternal prepregnancy BMI, paternal BMI
 Race/ethnicityTrialist defined
 Maternal ageAt recruitment
 Maternal gestational weight gainIn kilograms
 ParityPrimipara, multiparous
 Mode of delivery at birthCaesarean, vaginal
 Birth weightIn grams
 Weight for gestational ageSmall for gestational age, appropriate for gestational age, large for gestational age
 SexFemale, male, uncertain/other
 Gestational age at birthPreterm, term
 Household compositionFor example, 2 versus 1 adult household, siblings, marital status
 Type of pregnancySingleton, multiple
 Maternal diabetesGestational, type 1, type 2
 Smoking during pregnancyyes/no
 Infant’s age at enrolmentIn months
 Child’s age at final assessmentIn months
 Child care attendanceyes/no
Trial-level subgroups
 Delivery mode (intervention)For example, face-to-face, letter, mobile digital device, individual versus group
 Intervention settingFor example, household residence, community healthcare facility
 Intervention dose/intensityFor example, total number of contacts, frequency of contact, duration of contact
 FidelityPlanned, actual
 Timing of intervention onsetPreconception, antenatal, postnatal
 Timing of intervention completionChild age in months
 Current level of background care in the communityDescriptive, categorisation to be determined, for example, expected number of health contacts between birth and 1 year, expectation of attending prenatal programmes (yes/no), etc.
 CountryLow, middle, high income
 Behavioural±other intervention typeBehavioural intervention(s) alone versus behavioural+other intervention type (eg, supplement)

  • *Exact measures and definitions will depend on what the individual trials have collected and the degree to which harmonisation is possible. Specific details of all outcome measures will be elaborated on in our forthcoming statistical analysis plan, which will be agreed and signed off by the Collaboration before any data are analysed.

  • BMI, body mass index.