Abstract
Adults and children in Canada are not meeting physical activity guidelines nor consuming sufficient nutrient-rich foods. High engagement in these unhealthy behaviours can lead to obesity and its associated diseases. Parent-child interventions aimed at obesity prevention/treatment have assisted families with making positive changes to their nutrition and physical activity behaviours. Given that the home environment shapes early health behaviours, it is important to target both parents and children when addressing diet and physical activity. One method that has been shown to improve health outcomes is co-active coaching. The current study explored the impact of a three-month co-active coaching and/or health education intervention on the dietary intake and physical activity behaviours of parents with overweight/obesity and their children (ages 2.5–10; of any weight). Body composition (i.e., body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference), changes in parental motivation with respect to physical activity and dietary behaviours, and parental perceptions of program improvements were collected. A concurrent mixed methods study comprised of a randomized controlled trial and a descriptive qualitative design was utilized. Fifty parent-child dyads were recruited and randomly assigned to the control (n = 25) or intervention (n = 25) group. Assessments were completed at baseline, mid-intervention (six weeks), post-intervention (three months), and six-month follow-up. A linear mixed effects model was utilized for quantitative analysis. Inductive content analysis was used to extract themes from parent interviews. No significant results were observed over time for the dependent measures. Parents in both control and intervention groups reported varied program experiences, including developing changes in perspective, increased awareness of habits, and heightened accountability for making positive changes in themselves, and consequently, their families. Parents also shared barriers they faced when implementing changes (e.g., time, weather, stress). Qualitatively, both groups reported benefitting from this program, with the intervention group describing salient benefits from engaging in coaching. This research expands on the utility of coaching as a method for behaviour change, when compared to education only, in parents with overweight/obesity and their children.
Highlights
If developed during childhood, obesity is likely to persist into adolescence and adulthood [1].children who have parents with overweight/obesity are at a high risk of developing the disease themselves, in that the family environment exerts an important influence on the development of children’s habits [2,3,4]
The purpose of this study was to identify the impact of a three-month parent-focused coaching plus health education intervention compared to three-month parent-focused health education only on: (a) the physical activity (PA) levels and dietary intake of children and their parents with overweight/obesity, (b) parental motivation to engage in healthy behaviours, and (c) parental body composition
Site statistics showed that 68% (n = 17) of intervention group parents and 80% (n = 20) of control group parents accessed the health education webinars
Summary
Obesity is likely to persist into adolescence and adulthood [1].children who have parents with overweight/obesity are at a high risk of developing the disease themselves, in that the family environment exerts an important influence on the development of children’s habits [2,3,4]. Canadian 24-h Movement Guidelines for their age groups (>60-min of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA per day [6,7]). 3–4-year-olds and 51% of 5–17-year-olds engaging in more screen-viewing time than is recommended in the Canadian 24-h Movement Guidelines for recreational screen-based sedentary behaviours [8]. These age groups spend 2.3 h (5–11 year-olds) and 4.1 h (12- to 17-year-olds) engaged in recreational sedentary behaviours (e.g., watching television, text messaging, video games) per day [8]. Children who play sports are more likely to continue engaging in PA into adulthood [13]. Children whose parents are active are more likely to be active themselves [14]
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