Evaluation of a Family Education Program: For Overweight Children and Adolescents

Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
18 November 2011

Abstract

Increased child and youth overweight and obesity, as well as significant health effects associated with obesity, have led to recommendations for multicomponent prevention programs. In 2005 to 2006, the former Calgary Health Region (now Alberta Health Services) had an opportunity to develop, deliver, and evaluate an early intervention service for families with children at risk for overweight and obesity. Using available evidence and with access to key advisors, core team members developed and implemented a curriculum for a family-focused, behaviour-based education program entitled Make It HAPPEN. A health-centred approach based on the physical, mental, and social well-being of the whole child was used. Physical, selfesteem, and quality-of-life measures were included in program evaluation. After the program, statistically significant reductions in body mass index (BMI) percentile and z-score were seen, as were increases in quality of life. Self-esteem improved significantly for children with initial BMI percentiles of at least 98. Evaluation results indicate that an effective program can be developed with limited resources to meet best practice needs. Potentially, such programs could be integrated into other community obesity prevention programs or within primary health services models.

Résumé

En raison de la hausse de la prévalence d'excès de poids et d'obésité chez les enfants et les jeunes et des effets significatifs sur la santé associés à l'obésité, il est recommandé de mettre en place des programmes de prévention à composantes multiples. De 2005 à 2006, l'ancienne Calgary Health Region (qui est devenue l'Alberta Health Services) a eu l'occasion de mettre au point, d'offrir et d’évaluer des services d'intervention précoce destinés aux familles d'enfants à risque d'excès de poids et d'obésité. Grâce aux données probantes disponibles et à l'accès à des conseillers clés, les principaux membres de l’équipe ont mis au point et implanté le curriculum d'un programme d’éducation axé sur la famille et le comportement qui s'intitule Make It HAPPEN. Une approche axée sur la santé et basée sur le bien-être physique, mental et social de l'enfant a été employée. Des mesures du physique, de l'estime de soi et de la qualité de vie ont été incluses dans l’évaluation du programme. Après la mise en place du programme, une réduction statistiquement significative des percentiles de l'indice de masse corporelle (IMC) et de l’écart réduit a été observée, de même qu'une hausse de la qualité de vie. L'estime de soi s'est améliorée de manière significative chez les enfants dont le percentile de l'IMC initial était d'au moins 98. Les résultats de l’évaluation indiquent qu'un programme efficace peut être mis au point avec des ressources limitées tout en satisfaisant aux meilleures pratiques. De tels programmes pourraient être intégrés à d'autres programmes communautaires de prévention de l'obésité ou à des modèles de services de santé primaire.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 72Number 4December 2011
Pages: 191 - 196

History

Version of record online: 18 November 2011

Authors

Affiliations

Kay Watson-Jarvis, RD, MNS, FDC
Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB
Cyne Johnston, PhD
Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB
Camillia Clark, PhD, R Psych
Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, and Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB

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