Effectiveness of a behavioural incentive scheme in children: a new approach to address an expanding problem.

Children in the intervention sites will be participating in a community weight management programme (namely Go4Fun)and will also be eligible to receive incentives for reaching certain levels of attendance and for goal attainment. An overview of the incentives being as follows; 1. Attendance: children are incentivised for attending program sessions. Children will receive a skipping rope for attending 80% of program sessions (8 sessions) and a frisbee for 100% attendance (10 sessions). 2. Goal attainment: children are incentivised for achieving mutually-agreed (child/leader/family) goals before the next session. Specific, achievable and measureable goals will be and examples include ‘I will go for a family walk at least once a week for the next month’ or ‘I will not drink soft drink on school days for the next month.’ Once the goals are achieved children are eligible to receive agreed incentives as follows; a vegetable slicer once two goals are achieved, a $10 Rebel voucher once four goals are achieved and a height adjustable tennis set (Totem Tennis) once six goals are achieved. The existing Go4Fun program is a community-based, multidisciplinary family-focused program that targets weight-related behaviours and self-esteem of children aged 7 to 13 years who are overweight or obese. The program includes 10 x one hour-sessions per week during school terms. Sessions are group-based and comprise face-to-face physical activity sessions and education (behaviour change, nutrition, self-esteem) provided by trained health professionals. In line with current evidence about the importance of family engagement, both parent/guardian and the child attend the weekly sessions. To monitor adherence, weekly attendance records and participant diaries (physical activity, diet and goal achievement) are kept.