Rocky to help pilot obesity interventions, thanks to CQUni academic
Published on 23 May, 2013
Rockhampton region will help to pilot interventions aimed at reducing child obesity, thanks to CQUniversity nutritionist Dr Susan Williams' involvement at the planning stage of an emerging Statewide program...
Currently known as Trim Kids, the program is evidence-based and modelled on South Australia's 'Peach Program' which provided a parent-led, family-focused healthy lifestyle program for younger children.
Rockhampton's role in the pilot - alongside Brisbane - was announced this week during a Preventative Health Forum* promotion of 'Swap It Don't Stop It', for which Dr Williams was an invited speaker.
Thanks to HEALTH CRN (Collaborative Research Network) funding, Dr Williams has been mentored for a role with the Trim Kids program being pioneered by Professor Lynne Daniels from Queensland University of Technology.
Funding and support from the HealthCRN has enabled Dr Williams to complete a short-term exchange at QUT and will allow for ongoing travel of the program team (between Rockhampton and Brisbane) over the next six months of program planning.
Trim Kids is a joint Australian, State and Territory government initiative under the National Partnership Agreement on Preventative Health. It involves a range of research partners such as the Heart Foundation, Nutrition Australia, Medicare Local and Queensland Health and, as such, is a multi-faceted industry, government and NGO collaboration.
Dr Williams said overweight children aged between 6 and 12 years will be referred to the program by doctors, health centres, nutritionists, dietitians or parents. Over a six-month period, the children and their parents will be offered 10 weeks of face-to-face and online guidance and skills development across the areas of nutrition, exercise, lifestyle and behaviour.
"This is a great opportunity for some of our Exercise Science and Nutrition students to get involved with facilitating and delivering this program in Rockhampton." she said.
"Hopefully we can build the skills in our community so the program can continue beyond the three years which are currently funded,"
* During the Rockhampton Preventative Health Forum, leading experts came together to tackle the obesity epidemic. As well as Dr Williams from CQUniversity, participants included Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young, CQ Medicare Local Director of Programs Craig Osborne, Wendy Hiron from the CQ Health and Hospital Services Board, Sheree Hughes from the Heart Foundation and Sophia Czarkowski from Rockhampton Regional Council. Queensland's peak diabetes, heart, nutrition and cancer bodies support the Swap It, Don't Stop It campaign through their Queensland Non-Government Organisation's Swap It program. Visit http://www.swapit.gov.au/ for more information.