Photo & filming opportunity: Mother/daughter involved in child obesity trial

Aug 10, 2005

At the start of 2005 more than 100 overweight young children and their families from the Illawarra and Hunter regions were sought to participate in one of the first randomised controlled trials of its kind in Australia that will help determine how best to tackle the increasing rate of childhood obesity.

The University of Wollongong and the University of Newcastle have been jointly working on the trial known as HIKCUPS (Hunter and Illawarra Kids Challenge Using Parental Support) which has National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding.

The children, aged five-and-a-half to nine, have been randomly placed in one of three programs - (1) a physical activity program; (2) a dietary modification program (involving parents and run by a dietician from Wollongong Hospital); and (3) a program which combines physical activity and dietary modification.

Project Manager at the Child Obesity Research Centre at the University of Wollongong, Dr Rachel Jones, said the study hopes to determine how different approaches focusing on healthy eating and enjoyable physical activity may prevent unhealthy weight gain in children.

The children and families sought for the trial are being split into three groups with the first having started in term 2 of the 2005 school year, the second started in term 3 and volunteers are now being called for the third group to start in term 4.

How has the trial being going to date? One participating family keen to hail its effectiveness are the Bracewells and Mary Bracewell and her daughter, Luti Mokoi, will be at the University of Wollongong tomorrow (Wednesday 10 August at 2.45pm) to meet interested media representatives. The Bracewells along with Dr Jones will be at the entrance door to Building 23 (Education Building). Mrs Bracewell will outline the changes she has seen in her daughter since participating in the trial and the overall impact it has had on their lives and her advice to other parents. She will explain how the family has started eating different foods, changed viewing times in front of television and new skills learnt from different physical activities.

Meanwhile, more than 40 children and their parents are now being sought to take part in the third stage of the trial. Children and/or their parents will need to visit the University of Wollongong one afternoon a week from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Benefits for participating children will be a free blood profile revealing any cholesterol or insulin problems and they will receive expert advice on good eating habits and learn new skills through fun games and physical activities.

Parents wishing to have their children participate in one of the programs should phone (02) 4221 5551.

Media: Meet the Bracewell family and Dr Rachel Jones tomorrow (Wednesday 10 August at 2.45pm) at Building 23 (Education), UOW. Dr Jones can also be reached via her mobile on 0402 050592.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128