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Fit Kids/Fit Families

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Fit Kids/Fit Families is a program that focuses on core objectives of nutrition, exercise, & behavioral components. To participate, children must be overweight and can either self-enroll or be referred by a medical provider. The group meets once a week for two hours for 12 weeks. Weekly sessions include information about family nutrition and meal planning, and self-care and self-esteem. Sessions include a snack, which is prepared by the participating children, and an activity portion.

In week two, pre-test values of height, weight, body circumference, & BMI are measured. Parents and children complete a habit inventory, and children complete a self-esteem scale. In week 11, the same measures are taken and same surveys are completed. Children are asked to complete daily entries in a logbook, which are reviewed by instructors weekly. During weekly meetings, age-specific strategies for healthy lifestyle changes are provided by a dietician, behaviorist, and exercise specialist. Some weeks focus on the entire family, and others focus on either the child or the parents separately.

Goal / Mission

To improve children's nutritional status, increase their activity level, enhance their self-esteem, and create life-long health habits by using a multidisciplinary, community- and family-based system approach, and by engaging local health care professionals with community agencies.

Impact

The Fit Kids/Fit Families program shows that multidisciplinary, community- and family-based approaches to children's exercise, weight, & nutrition can have an effect on healthier nutritional choices, increased physical activity, decreased sedentary activity, healthier behaviors, and BMI reductions.

Results / Accomplishments

68 children enrolled in the program. The average age was 10.4 years with a range of 5 to 16 years. All participants had BMIs greater than the 85th percentile. Based on log books, 59% of children increased physical activity and 32% reduced sedentary activity during the program. According to parents' reports, 100% estimated an increase in children's physical activity and 97% estimated a decrease in sedentary activity. 81% of children improved and 13% maintained their BMIs. There was a significant decrease in mean BMI between pre- and post-test measurements (p < 0.0001). There was also a significant decrease in body circumference (p < 0.0004). 65% of children experienced improved self-esteem, a statistically significant increase (p < 0.0004). Anecdotally, parents reported many children also tried new foods, reduced unhealthy food choices, and read labels on food products.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Wisconsin Partnership Fund for a Healthy Future, Aurora Health Care
Primary Contact
Laura Joosse, PhD
UW Milwaukee, College of Nursing
Cunningham Hall 543
1921 E. Hartford Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53211
414-229-5459
lljoosse@uwm.edu
http://uwm.edu/nursing/people/directory/joosse-phd...
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Children's Health
Organization(s)
Wisconsin Partnership Fund for a Healthy Future, Aurora Health Care
Source
Wisconsin Medical Journal
Date of publication
Aug 2008
Date of implementation
2004
Location
Wisconsin
For more details
Target Audience
Children
Santa Cruz