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Family-based nutrition, exercise program improves self-perception in children

A family-based, holistic approach to improving nutrition and increasing physical activity among children promoted positive self-perception, which may have decreased the burden of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem many obese youth face, according to data published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

“Although recommendations are in place for developing and delivering effective programs, many families with overweight children do not have access to programs, in part because many intervention programs are delivered via clinical sites and barriers exist for accessing clinical providers, particularly for low-income, minority populations,” Martha Archuleta, PhD, RD, who was affiliated with New Mexico State University at the study was completed, and colleagues wrote. “… The Fit Families program was developed in response to the lack of resources in southern New Mexico to address the concern regarding childhood obesity in a positive, culturally appropriate manner in a population with a large percentage of Hispanic people.”

The Fit Families program was delivered through the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service, with input from local pediatricians and other health professionals. According to the researchers, it was based on Social Cognitive Theory, “which posits that personal, behavioral and environmental factors work in a dynamic and reciprocal fashion, and that all are important in influencing behavior change.”

Specifically, the program included information on healthy food choices, enjoyable physical activity and feeling positive, all aimed at obese children and their families.

To determine the impact of the program on self-perception, the researchers analyzed the answers of 46 children aged 8 to 17 years who completed the Self-Perception Profile for Children questionnaire at its beginning and end.

The Fit Families program was delivered in a series of seven weekly sessions that met for 2 hours and 45 minutes. Children who were overweight or obese, defined by the researchers as having a BMI in the 85th or greater percentile for their age, were referred to the program by local physicians. Class size was limited to 15 children. However, because at least one parent of each referred child was required to attend, and other family members, including siblings, were encouraged to attend, typical class sizes actually ranged from 40 to 50 adults and children. A registered dietitian led the program’s nutrition component, a professional with a degree in exercise science guided physical activity, and a school counselor mentored the children on feeling positive. In addition, a simple, nutritious meal was served at the beginning of each session.

According to the researchers, youth participants reported improved self-perception in the areas of athletic competence (P = .04) and physical appearance (P = .007) following completion of the program.

“Because there was an emphasis on fun physical activity in the program and children and parents reported enjoying the games at Fit Families, this may have resulted in the children’s increased self-perception related to their athletic ability,” Archuleta and colleagues wrote. “… use of community-based childhood obesity interventions such as Fit Families could be a cost-effective way to improve the physical and mental health of children and set them on a more optimal pathway to becoming healthy adults.” – by Jason Laday

Disclosure: See the full study for relevant financial disclosures.