Paediatric & MIH Randomised controlled trial ✓ Peer reviewed

The CHALO! Study Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Risk of Childhood Dental Caries and Obesity.

International journal of environmental research and public health · Debnath A, Bonuck K, Gao Q, Ramachandran U, Gaur S, Custodio-Lumsden CL, Kopycka-Kedzierawski DT, Kim M, Karasz A · 2026-06-25

A randomized controlled trial tested whether community health worker home visits and phone calls could reduce bottle use, sugar consumption, and poor oral hygiene in low-income South Asian immigrant children. The intervention successfully reduced bottle/sippy-cup use and improved dietary and hygiene behaviours, but did not significantly reduce dental caries or obesity risk.

A plain-English summary of the study's own findings — we don't add our own claims or interpretation. Read the full paper for the complete methods and results, and apply your own clinical judgement.

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