RISE August-September 2011 - University of Salford

Child obesity and family
intervention
Childhood obesity isn’t just a UK problem we know it’s an issue in many countries.
However it’s not something that a child can tackle alone, lifestyle intervention is
needed through a family behavioural-change approach with respect to physical
activity and diet.
Professor Lindsey Dugdill, School
of Health Sciences, here at the
University, and colleagues
from Liverpool John Moores
University and Leeds Metropolitan University
have recently published research findings on a
study exploring the relationship between adult
BMI change and child BMI SDS (BMI Standard
Deviation Score) change following completion
of a community-based, lifestyle change
intervention for obese children and families
in Liverpool.
The research focused on a family based
programme for overweight children and
young people called GOALS (Getting Our
Active Lifestyles Started). GOALS is a healthy
lifestyle programme that helps families with
overweight or obese children, make small,
realistic changes to their physical activity and
eating behaviours.
Lindsey said: “GOALS supported the whole
family in making gradual, sustainable changes
to their levels of physical activity and their
eating patterns. The intervention involved
families working in a group for eighteen 2
hour, once weekly, sessions. These focused on
diet, physical activity and behaviour change,
and involved practical cooking and classroom
sessions to equip families with the skills and
knowledge to eat a healthy balanced diet
(based on the Food Standards Agency Eat
well Plate). Physical activity as we know is
a key factor in addressing obesity and the
intervention also included weekly, fun based,
physical activity sessions for adults and
children together, with emphasis on
enhancing self efficacy for physical activity
through modeling, achieving targets and
goals with positive reinforcement all the
way through”.
Above: Physical activity and family fun helping to
combat obesity and diabetes
The research results clearly show a strong
positive association between adult BMI change
and child BMI SDS change, and demonstrate
that family adult members being involved
in the weight loss process improves child
treatment outcomes.
Acknowledgements: Liverpool City Council
(SportsLinx), Liverpool PCT, Alder Hey
Children’s Hospital, families who participated
in the GOALS intervention
This work was funded through the
Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (2006-2008)
and the Working Neighbourhood Fund
(2008-2009)
Name: Lindsey Dugdill
Email: l.dugdill@salford.ac.uk
August/September | 17