None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
K inder for Children and Families O verweight: for overcoming and becoming OK A ctivity: for an active body and mind L ifestyle: for a living life-giving diet A ctions: for looking ahead together Up to 30% of children in our society are overweight or obese. This is national health crisis as 50% of such individuals will go on to develop diabetes mellitus, liver and cardiovascular disease as adolescents or young adults. We hypothesise that a "Holistic Approach" incorporating an effective proven behavioural strategy (Lifestyle Triple P) and exercise lifestyle program for children and their families will be effective at proving sustainable improvements in lifestyle and general health in children who are overweight or obese and their families. The KOALA research program aims to improve the quality of lives for children with obesity and their families for sustainable health improvements into adulthood. The KOALA research program links a tertiary based clinic at the Mater Children's Hospital (MCH) with a Community Based sustainable support network involving Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Scouts Qld Active camps, General Practitioners (GP's) and researchers at the University of Qld to improve the quality of lives of children with obesity and their families for sustainable health improvements into adulthood. We will enrol 100-150 children into a randomised control study that compares "Care as Usual" with an "Enhanced Care Program". All participants will receive a medical, nutritional, physical activity and psychosocial assessment at baseline, 6 and 12 months at the MCH KOALA clinic, and receive standard nutritional advice, “Eat Well be Active” – Qld Health Tip sheets, and be encouraged to attend weekly physical activity sessions through programs such as Active After Schools (AASC) program or Scouts or UQ “Motor Active” programs. The “Enhanced Care” program in Arm B will be complimented by family involvement in a 20 week Lifestyle Triple P and a Scouts Active Program, including attendance at 3 weekend camps. The GP will also be supported by a GP Liaison officer with access to training and workshops. Clinical research outcomes will include 1) assessments of body mass index and body composition, 2) Metabolic and Cardiovascular health, 3) Family and Quality of Life (QOL) and Self-Esteem 4) Physical Aerobic fitness and 5)Understanding of Healthy Lifestyle changes. If successful KOALA could be implemented nationally through well-established Scouts, Triple P and GP networks to improve child and family health and lifestyle.
Interventions
The multidisciplinary intervention consisted of three components: (1) Group Lifestyle Triple P Positive Parenting Program; (2) Scouts Active Camp; and (3) dietetic consultations. The intervention was delivered to two cohorts given restrictions on the maximum number of parents able to attend programs at any one time.
Lifestyle Triple P
Lifestyle Triple P - Positive Parenting Program (West & Sanders, 2010) is an intensive, parent-only intervention for overweight or obese children aged 5 to 12 y
The multidisciplinary intervention consisted of three components: (1) Group Lifestyle Triple P Positive Parenting Program; (2) Scouts Active Camp; and (3) dietetic consultations. The intervention was delivered to two cohorts given restrictions on the maximum number of parents able to attend programs at any one time. Lifestyle Triple P Lifestyle Triple P - Positive Parenting Program (West & Sanders, 2010) is an intensive, parent-only intervention for overweight or obese children aged 5 to 12 years. It targets dysfunctional parenting styles associated with childhood obesity and builds parental self-efficacy in managing a child’s lifestyle behaviour. It consisted of 16 sessions delivered over approximately 20 weeks, with 10 group sessions (2 hours each), and 6 individual telephone consultations (15-30 minutes each). Trained and accredited Triple P facilitators delivered the program using structured session checklists to ensure treatment fidelity. Active Scouts Camp (intervention group only) Scouts Queensland, a community organisation, offered 3 overnight family camps to each cohort approximately 6 weeks apart (following baseline, 6 weeks and 3 months later) at Scouts Queensland facilities at Mount Cotton and Victoria Park, Brisbane. There was no cost to participants. The target child, nominated parent/s, and siblings were all invited to attend each camp, to minimize any stigma associated with the camps being only for overweight or obese children in the family. The camp consisted of outdoor physical activities and team building exercises typical of those run by Scouts Queensland, and included group adventure walks, canoeing, and ball and tag games. No nutrition education sessions were delivered at the camp; however, the Queensland Association of School Tuckshops reviewed the camp food menu to ensure it matched National Healthy Eating Guidelines (NHMRC, 2003b). Dietetic consultation Four individualized consultations with a paediatric dietician were also provided at baseline, 1-, 2-, and 4-months. The consultations obtained information related to dietary intake of core food groups and recommended. Individualised meal plans were devised and issues relating to diet were problem-solved.
Sponsors
Mater Children's Hospital
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
6 Years to 10 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) the child was aged 6-10 years; (b) at least one parent or guardian was willing to participate; and (c) the child’s body mass index was greater than or equal to the 85th percentile-for-age according to Centre for Disease Control (CDC) criteria . Participants were ineligible if: (1) the child had hypertension, obstructive sleep apnoea, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, a genetic obesity-related syndrome, or orthopaedic complications of obesity; (2) the child was diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder; (3) the child had emotional or behavioural problems; and (4) child had current or past history of taking medications known to affect weight or growth. A cohort of ~40 age and sex-matched healthy volunteer children with healthy BMI between >3 to less than 85th centile were also recruited as healthy volunteer controls to undergo the same baseline assessment as the overweight and obese children also underwent.
Exclusion criteria
A chronic disease or illness including any physical, psychological or mental health condition that would impair physical activity or participation in a Scouts Active camp program. Medication that would affect weight gain (e.g corticosteroids, ant-epileptics, psychotropic drugs). Lack of informed consent and assent.
Outcome results
None listed