Counterweight Families Programme
With the prevalence of obesity in children increasing, a need exists to further develop clinically effective approaches and interventions.1 Counterweight Families recognises the family as a unit and a major mechanism of influence in affecting health behaviour change.2 The Counterweight Project Team has deliberately decided to develop and test an intervention for families rather than specifically for children.
Family dynamics include family rules, emotional support, encouragement, reinforcement, and participation. Influence among family members is multi-directional and any family member may model behaviour.3 Incorporating lifestyle changes to diet and activity Counterweight Families utilises a model of social learning and builds on family dynamics to support improved weight management. Each member of the family has a role to play with parents as the main facilitators of change. The Counterweight Families approach includes parents and children enabling families to set challenges and goals for the family as a whole, as well as for individual members.
Counterweight Families provides a structured and innovative whole family approach to weight management. Families of overweight parents with one or more overweight children of primary school age are invited to take part. Participating families attend a local practitioner (nurse, healthcare assistant or other community healthcare worker) for 10 appointments over 12 months. Practitioners of Counterweight Families provide support and direction enabling family lifestyle assessment, and change in attitudes and behaviours.
Counterweight Families
- Trains local practitioners and community health workers in delivery
- Mentors trained practitioners with competency based assessment to ensure standardisation and confidence
- Provides resources for practitioners
- Supplies motivational tools for participating families
- Delivers continuous improvement through data collection and evaluation
The Counterweight family programme is being evaluated in Scotland and England.
For more information
Please contact Anne Clarke anne.clarke@counterweight.org or Felicity Lyons felicity.lyons@counterweight.org
References
1. Oude Luttikhuis H et al. Interventions for treating obesity in children Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009; Issue 1 Art No: CD001872. DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD001872.pub
2. Gruber KJ, Haldeman LA. Using the family to combat childhood and adult obesity. Preventing Chronic Disease 2009; 6: (3): 1-10
3. Sallis JF, Nader PR. Family determinants of health behaviours. In: Gochman DS, editor. Health behaviour: emerging research perspectives. New York (NY): Plenum Press; 1988. pp. 107-24