ENTICING your overweight child away from computer games, junk food and lazy habits does not have to be a struggle.
The University of Queensland needs 100 Brisbane families to participate in a free parenting program, Lifestyle Triple P, for overweight children aged between 5-10.
Lifestyle Triple P trains parents to promote healthy eating and increase children’s activity levels through positive parenting.
Triple P groups have started and will be held at UQ’s St Lucia campus, the Royal Children’s Hospital, and Cleveland and Inala State Schools.
The 12-week program involves nine, one-and-a-half hour group sessions and three phone sessions.
Project co-ordinator Felicity West said this was the first widespread trial of Lifestyle Triple P which aimed to make children healthier and increase parent confidence.
Mrs West said the program taught parents to modify recipes, encourage children to walk to school and make long-term changes to unhealthy routines.
Data from the trial programs are needed before the results are published in medical journals.
Associate Professor Geoff Cleghorn, Head of UQ’s Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, said up to 25 percent of school aged children were overweight.
“These children are more likely to suffer from emotional problems such as low self-esteem and bullying,” Dr Cleghorn said.
“They have a higher risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, and are more likely to be overweight as adults. If left untreated, obesity can become a lifelong problem.”
UQ Clinical Psychology Professor Matthew Sanders said the program filled a gap in services.
“Many parents are concerned about raising healthy children but find it difficult to get help that really works,” Professor Sanders said.
“This program provides access to helpful information about how to combine healthy eating, an active lifestyle and positive parenting to help their children overcome problems of being overweight.”
New groups start soon.
To register or for more information contact Felicity West (07 3365 6207, felicity@psy.uq.edu.au) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (07 3365 2619, m.holland@uq.edu.au)
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