BackgroundCommunity-based obesity treatment programs for children that have a large program reach are a priority. To date, most programs have been small efficacy trials whose findings have yet to be up-scaled and translated into real-world settings. This paper reports on the process evaluation of a government-funded, translated obesity treatment program for children in Australia. It describes the characteristics and reach of children participating in the New South Wales (NSW) Ministry of Health Go4Fun® program.MethodsDelivered across the state of NSW (Australia) by Local Health Districts (LHDs), Go4Fun® is a community-based, multidisciplinary family obesity treatment program adapted from the United Kingdom Mind Exercise Nutrition Do it (MEND) program that targets weight-related behaviours. Children aged 7-13 years with a BMI ≥85th percentile and no co-morbidities were eligible at no cost. Parents/carers self-refer via a toll-free phone number, text messages, online registration or via secondary referrals. LHDs deliver a 16 to 20-session program based on length of school term, holidays and recruitment challenges. Both parent/carer and child attend bi-weekly after school sessions. Parent-reported socio-demographic and measured child weight characteristics are presented using descriptive statistics. Differences between completers (attended at least 75% of sessions) and non-completers were assessed using chi-square tests, independent sample t-tests and adjusted odds ratios. Analyses were adjusted for clustering of programs.ResultsBetween 2009 and 2012, a total of 2,499 children (54.8% girls; mean age [SD]: 10.2 [1.7 years]) participated in the Go4Fun® program. Children were mainly from low-middle socioeconomic status (76.5%), resided in major cities (63.3%), and 5.7% were Aboriginal. At baseline, 96.5% of children were overweight or obese. Mean BMI-z-score was 2.07 (0.41) and 94.5% had a waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5. More than half (57.9%) completed at least 75% of sessions. Amongst completers (N = 1,446), girls (56.8%; p = 0.02), non-Aboriginal children (95.9%; p < 0.01) and children residing in less socially disadvantaged areas (25.9%; p = 0.02) were significantly more likely to complete the program.ConclusionsThe Go4Fun® program successfully reached the targeted population of overweight/obese children at socioeconomic disadvantage and is a rare example of an up-scaled translational program.
A family-based childhood obesity programme can be delivered OPW with no compromise to health or behavioural outcomes compared with TPW. Higher attendance, as a proportion of available sessions, leads to better outcomes for children.
We support the view of Ajith H. Gunadtilaka 1 that it is time for the Education Department to prevent the continuation of chocolate drives. Fundraisers can be part of a healthy lifestyle by providing oppor tunities to be more ph ysically active, minimising consumption of high-fat foods and sug ary drinks and increasing consumption of fr uit, vegetables and water.We have recently produced a second edition of a Fundraising for Healthy Kids booklet for our local area because of the overw helming response we received to the f irst edition. This booklet contains details on how to organise 49 healthy fundraising ideas. Opportunities include providing nutritious fresh foods for children and their families. Buying produce direct from far ms or in b ulk from local bakeries often result in discounted and fresher products than are usually bought at the supermarket. Increasing children's participation in physical activity by having active family fun day outings and discounted prices from local business that provide physical activity outlets for children are some fundraisers that promote healthy lifestyles.Chocolate manufacturers and the like make it easy for volunteers to conduct their fundraiser. To encourage healthy options, we need to make healthy fundraisers easy to conduct. We need to market the ideas and details on how to conduct the fundraiser. We need to play the same game as the competitors.Gover nments also play an impor tant role through legislation. In the meantime, parents and their neighbourhood friends need to encourage and suppor t healthy fundraising initiatives. So when a healthy fundraiser comes to your door -order up! References 1. Gunatilaka AH. Raising funds to create an obese society.
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