'Up4It!' Tackling Obesity - the family way
02/10/2012
At a recent cross border event, the issue of obesity in children was starkly highlighted by Professor Donal O’Shea, Consultant Endocrinologist at St Vincent’s University Hospital and St Columcille’s Hospital, who is a renowned expert on obesity.
He stressed that: “80% of diseases are preventable if we keep our weight normal. The key is to prevent obesity happening at early an age as possible, because, in the majority of instances, once a child becomes overweight they will carry this weight into adulthood, and it becomes more difficult to tackle the problem. In Ireland every year, almost 6,000 people die from obesity related diseases, which is 11 times greater than the number that die from suicide” He continued: “the hard facts are that one third of school going children are overweight or obese. Tackling obesity is not easy but it is necessary and in my view the promotion of prevention programmes for children is the best approach. The UP4IT! Obesity programmes have demonstrated that they are effective in reducing obesity in children as well as improving their self-esteem.”
At the event, the success of an obesity prevention and management programme underway in the border area was revealed. It was highlighted that in the past year almost 400 families from the border counties, from both Northern Ireland and the Republic, have participated in one of the two ’UP4IT!’ obesity programmes.
In the Southern Trust, Early Years has been delivering the programme in the Craigavon, Lurgan and Portadown areas.
Those present at the event heard directly from parents and children who had taken part, had fun and worked hard at achieving their goals and seeing their health improve whether it was through weight loss, getting fitter or feeling better about themselves. One parent stated the programme made them “more confident and happier. Overall we learned a lot in relation to the nutrition and physical activities, as well as being aware of our feelings and emotions.”
Families also highlighted that they had “learnt new habits for a new lifestyle” as a result of being on the UP4IT! programme. Notably many of the participants felt that because the programme was so beneficial, “all families should get the opportunity to attend as part of being a healthy, responsible family.”
The UP4IT! project is funded by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA programme secured by CAWT, the cross border health partnership. A total of £930,929 was awarded to deliver the project across the border region of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The ‘UP4IT!’ project aims to address the rising concern of childhood obesity and has two programmes underway: The ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ Programme to prevent obesity, targets parents with a child under 5 years. The ‘Making a Difference’ Programme focuses on families with an overweight child aged 8-11 years. Both programmes are being delivered through a partnership of local community, voluntary, early childhood and statutory organisations in four pilot sites across the border region.
Pauline Walmsley, Director of Early Years - the organisation for young children, praised the hard work which had resulted in a successful partnership approach. She said: “The UP4IT! Healthier Choices, Healthier Families programmes were born from interagency working within the area. With partnership support we have delivered a holistic programme, which has focused on helping families work together in making those little changes in diet, activity and wellbeing. It is hoped that the small changes made will make a big difference to families’ health in the long term. We are all aware of the challenges to being healthy in these busy and stressful times, but as we have heard today this programme has helped parents to ensure health is a top priority for the family.”
Paul Morgan, Director of Children and Young People’s Services, Southern Health and Social Care Trust said: ‘The UP4IT! programme delivered by Early Years in the Southern Trust area has supported a whole family approach to preventing and managing obesity, recognising the importance of parents in influencing and role modelling healthy lifestyles so they become habits for life.’
Welcoming the EU investment Angela McComb, Regional Nutrition Lead at the Public Health Agency, said: “Supporting families to manage their health is a priority within the Public Health Agency. We are delighted for this opportunity, funded by the EU INTERREG IVA, to work in partnership with local communities and offer this innovative programme. Today, families have stressed the benefits of taking part and how their lives have become healthier.”
Speaking on behalf of the cross border project board, Dr Maura O’Neill, Head of Health Improvement at the Western Health and Social Care Trust said: “This fun, practical programme delivered by a diversity of professionals in an informal community setting has provided families with the information and practical help they need. Managing obesity is complex and we heard today the difference that such a programme can make to everyday life and how it can improve the health of family members.”
The UP4IT! programme is undergoing independent evaluation with the results expected in 2013.
Photo
Early Years staff members from the Southern Trust area pictured at the CAWT ‘UP4IT!’ cross border obesity showcase event held in Monaghan (left to right): Diane Boyd; Michael Brown; Director of Development, Media Workshop; Davina Kelly, University of Ulster Nutrition Student; Shirley Hawkes; Pauline Walmsley; Rachel Hawthorne, Community Dietician, Southern Trust and Audrey Rainey, Community Development Advisor