Ground-breaking trial to test best program for obese children

More than 100 overweight young children from the New South Wales, Illawarra region are being sought to participate in one of the first randomised controlled trials of its kind in Australia that will help determine how best to tackle their obesity problem.

The University of Wollongong and the University of Newcastle are 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. Newcastle will be conducting a similar trial throughout the Hunter region.

The trial is a follow-up to a pilot physical activity program tested in 2003 known as SHARK (Skills Honing and Active Recreation for Kids).

The children, aged six to nine, will be 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.

Dr Tony Okely, A Senior Lecturer in Physical and Health Education and Director of the Child Obesity Research Centre at the University of Wollongong, said it was hoped to determine how better it might be for children to be on the combined program rather than just a physical activity or dietary modification program.

He said the 100 children being sought would be split into three cohorts with cohort 1 starting in term 2 of the school year, cohort 2 in term 3 and cohort 3 in term 4.

Children will need to visit the University one afternoon a week from 3.30pm to 5.30pm for whatever school term in which they may be involved.

Dr Okely said among the benefits for participating children will be a free blood profile revealing any cholesterol or insulin problems and at the same time they will receive expert advice on good eating habits and learn various fun physical activity skills that will put them on the path to lifelong physical activity and diet patterns.

“Obesity in childhood can cause immediate and long-term medical and psychosocial complications such as low self-esteem, high cholesterol levels and glucose intolerance,” Dr Okely said.

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