Free Parenting Program for Overweight Children

150 Brisbane families will have the chance to take part in an exciting new research project designed to reduce childhood obesity.

The aim of the study is to evaluate Lifestyle Triple P, a 12-week parenting program for overweight children aged 5-10 years.

Lifestyle Triple P resources are based on the award winning Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, with additional sessions focusing on nutrition and physical activity.

“International and Australian research shows that up to 25% of school aged children are overweight or obese,” said Associate Professor Geoff Cleghorn, Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and Clinical Director of the Children’s Nutrition Research Centre at The University of Queensland.

“These children are more likely to suffer from emotional problems such as low self-esteem and bullying. They have a higher risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, and are more likely to be overweight as adults. If left untreated, obesity can become a lifelong problem.”

The aim of Lifestyle Triple P is to provide parents with practical assistance in reducing their children’s percentage overweight and preventing chronic health problems.

“The program offers practical strategies for improving children’s nutritional intake and activity levels, and using positive parenting to promote a healthy lifestyle”, said Matthew Sanders, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Parenting and Family Support Centre at The University of Queensland.

Lifestyle Triple P groups will be run in various locations around Brisbane over the next 18 months. Participation in Lifestyle Triple P is confidential and free.

Professor Sanders believes the new Lifestyle Triple P fills a current gap in services.

“Many parents are concerned about raising healthy children, but find it difficult to get help that really works. This program provides access to helpful information about how to combine healthy eating, an active lifestyle and positive parenting to help their children overcome problems of being overweight. We are better able to prevent obesity in children with this three-pronged approach: nutrition, physical activity and behaviour management.”

Lifestyle Triple P is unique because it not only provides parents with information about good nutrition and adequate exercise, it specifically trains parents how to make changes in their children’s eating and activity patterns, and how to maintain those changes long-term.

Lifestyle Triple P is an initiative of the Parenting and Family Support Centre and the Children’s Nutrition Research Centre at The University of Queensland, with support from the Telstra Foundation.

For more information contact Felicity West on 3365 6207 or felicity@psy.uq.edu.au