Smart Heart Trial: Structured Lifestyle Intervention for Overweight and Obese Youth With Operated Heart Defects

The structured lifestyle intervention involves alternating weekly phone calls with two health coaches: a registered dietitian and a fitness specialist. A total of 50 phone calls (25 nutrition-related and 25 physical activity-related) are delivered over the one-year study. After six months in the program, participants are introduced to supporting program-specific software that they can access online, as an additional way to interact with the program, set goals, and record their progress. Client and family-centred nutrition and physical activity counselling includes an initial and regular behavioural assessment, and subsequent conversations (i.e., phone calls) using motivational interviewing techniques intended to increase knowledge or skills, and improve behaviours.