Changing Health Behaviors: Exploring Families’ Participation in a Family-Based Community Intervention for Overweight/Obese Children

A Critique:

Introduction

There has been a global increase in the cases of obesity. In identifying the issue, it has been established that there is clearly a need for health education pertaining to nutrition, diet and physical activity. As a result, the Health Families intervention has been established to target the need for this education amongst individuals in impoverished communities.

Background

Increase in rates of childhood obesity all over the world including the United States

From 1980-2006 the incidence of childhood obesity have doubled and even tripled within youth in certain age brackets

It is of great concern because obesity has been linked to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and psychosocial disorders

In order to improve the health status of these children it is imperative that an initiative is made in changing their current behavior to encourage health conscious behaviors

Current studies show that family-based interventions are an effective way of changing the behaviors of children. However, this is only possible if the parents are dedicated to actively participating in the intervention

In recognizing the need to increase parental participation, this study employs the use of qualitative research to better understand the dynamics of intervention.

Goals of the Study

•Increase the knowledge of healthier eating habits •Decrease the rates of obesity within various communities in the United States•Build a successful intervention

Curriculum Used

Transtheoretical Model Social Cognitive Theory for behavior

change

The Study•Twelve weeks•One child and adult from a household attended a series of lessons on how to read food labels, interpret the information and practicing using the information •A meeting was held once a week for an hour and a half each week. The families were given lectures on how to read and interpret the information of food levels and also how to use positive reinforcement to encourage healthy eating and physical activity within their household•Lectures were given for the first eleven weeks of the program•On the final week of the program, the families were given the opportunity to put their knowledge to use at a grocery store

Weekly Activities

The Study

•The original sample size of interviewees for the research was sixty-six participants•Only nine out of the sixty-six participants were interviewed•Number was so low due to the inability of the researcher to contact the rest of the participants because they had either had their phone disconnected, given a wrong number, did not answer, moved out of town or did not have an interpreter present to interpret for them during the interview•Four families interviewed were Hispanic, three were African American, one was Caucasian and the other was biracial. The children who also participated in the research ranged from age eight to seventeen

Participant Information

Why was completion low?

Transportation Medical problems School sports Weather Work

Transportation

Used to be available on a Health Families site

Cancelled Abused Providing transportation is not

impactful according to other studies

Interviewing the Participants

Interpreting the Study

Overall, it is unknown if the intervention was successful

Not enough participants

References

Wolcott, D. (2011). Changing health behaviors: Exploring families’ participation in a family-based community intervention for overweight/obese children.Childhood Obesity, 3(7), 1-10. Retrieved from http://libproxy.umflint.edu:2060/pqdweb?index=2&did=2383630721&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=6&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1318982260&clientId=16043