The programme is a family focused, interactive, lifestyle change programme, which encourages healthy eating and promotes physical activity as well as addressing the behavioural, social and psychological causes of weight gain. It has been developed based on the principles of health behaviour change and aims to motivate participants to feel positive about making sustainable lifestyle changes.
Throughout the programme, parents should be encouraged to be role models for their children and to take the main responsibility for lifestyle changes within the family.
The first part of the programme concentrates on building positive and encouraging relationships between parents/carers and children and establishing group confidence in a secure environment before introducing information on diet and activity. It is delivered by a mix of theory and practical activities which are designed to be enjoyable and fun for children, parents and facilitators.
The majority of programmes will be run with groups of participants, but it is flexible enough to be delivered to individuals and families if this is indicated. One of the purposes of the group format is to strengthen participant’s abilities to give and receive support from each other, i.e. build community support networks, which can be sustained after the programme has ended.