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Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Current statistics indicate 20-23% of Australian children are overweight or obese and its incidence has risen 300% over the last ten years. Overweight or obesity has significant impact on children’s physical and psychological health.
"Kids on Track" targets children 3 to 10 years who do not have any medical conditions that might cause overweight. Its purpose is to examine the effect of a group parent intervention on the course and severity of overweight. It helps parents address their children’s health problems via three key areas of nutrition, physical activity and family behaviour change. It also investigates if positive health outcomes can be maintained over a significant length of time.
Treatment involves a single 4hr parent group session and a 3mth 1hr booster session. A comprehensive parent workbook is used and was developed from a literature review and experience from previous treatment groups. Family health outcomes are evaluated via parent self report checklists and family clinical measures. This occurs before and 3 months after treatment.
The primary goals of the project involves: developing an effective and efficient treatment for childhood overweight which will benefit families, schools, hospitals, community health centres and health service districts.
In summary, the program is free and run by a multidisciplinary teams including a Paediatrician, Dietitian, Occupational therapist, Child Health Nurese, Social Worker, Physiotherapist and Psychologist. It targets overweight and obese children aged 3 to 10 years on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Bayside Districts.
To register, or for more information contact:
For the Gold Coast Area:
The Receptionist
Bundall Community Child Health
Po Box 5699
GCMC Bundall Qld 9726
Phone: 07 5570 8553
For the Sunshine Coast Area:
Central Intake Officer
Child and Family Health Services
Noosa Community Health Centre
Po Box 1060, Noosa Heads Qld 4567
Phone: 07 54504747
For the Bayside Area:
Triple P Customer Service Officer
Redland Health Service Centre
PO Box 585 Cleveland 4163
Phone: 3488 4222
For the Dalby Area:
Jenny Wirth
Dalby Community and Child Health
30 New Street, Dalby Phone 07 4672 4000.
Postal address: Private Mail Bag 2, Dalby Qld 4405
Last updated: 17 September 2008
Last Reviewed: September 2008
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