The Weighty Matter intervention: a family-centered way to tackle an overweight childhood.
The complexity of childhood overweight and obesity requires that researchers continue to investigate potential solutions. We developed "The Weighty Matter" intervention to prevent obesity in mildly overweight 4- and 6-year-old children. This article describes the intervention protocol, the health habits of families (n=86), and the effect of the intervention on children's weight for height, parents' body mass indices, and family health habits after a 12-month follow-up. Positive changes were seen in families' health habits, although the results did not reach statistical significance. As a result of this study, a new and practical method was developed to focus on the issue of family health habits.
Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. rjjunn@utu.fi
Riina
R
Junnila
Minna
M
Aromaa
Olli J
OJ
Heinonen
Hanna
H
Lagström
Pirjo-Riitta
PR
Liuksila
Tero
T
Vahlberg
Sanna
S
Salanterä
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D022143:Family Nursing; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D050177:Overweight / Q000451:nursing*