Preventing childhood obesity isn't simply about getting kids in better shape, the entire family needs to be involved to help create a healthy environment, according to Northern Health Shapedown co-ordinator Arkell Wiley.
"Tackling the issue as a whole family is an important step," Wiley said. "It's been shown that interventions that include the whole family are the ones that are most long-lasting."
That philosophy is a key component in the Shapedown program, which started earlier this month as a partnership between Northern Health and the YMCA of Northern B.C. The program gives families who have been referred by a physician a chance to learn healthy lifestyle techniques and put them into practice.
Over the 10 weeks of the course, they will be given tips on how to eat healthier and become more active and will be instructed on how building self-esteem and improving communication skills can help make those lifestyle changes stick. At the end, they will be given a pass to the YMCA so they can continue with the exercise regime after the program is done.
The program is open to families with children between the ages of six and 17 who have weight management programs. The first cohort is underway and a second group will start in April. Wiley is hopeful the program will continue after that.
The families work with a physician, dietitian, and exercise specialist to integrate the health tips into their lifestyle. The idea is not to get participants to focus on losing weight, but rather living in a healthier manner.
"We're not placing blame on the families or the individuals and we're not necessarily encouraging weight loss or dieting," Wiley said. "It's a weight management program but we understand that kids can be healthy and thrive at all sizes."
While the program is only open to those who have received a formal referral, Wiley said there are many things all families can do to help prevent children from developing weight issues and to deal with them if they do arise.
She said eating at home and together is important and suggests only eating out or ordering takeout on special occasions.
Families should also monitor screen time - the amount of time children spend on computers or in front of the television - and encourage exercise. On a daily basis, Wiley said screen time should be limited to two hours and families should aim for one hour of physical activity like biking, hiking, swimming or going to the park.
Having parents demonstrate the type of behaviour they want their children to engage in also helps, so that means mom and dad should be eating right and staying active as well.
"It's important to set your children up for success, so in the home environment don't have a lot of junk food and sugary drinsk if we're trying to maintain health," Wiley said. "So stock the fridge with fruits and vegetables."
For those dealing with weight issues, trying to change the way they live their lives can seem daunting, so Wiley suggests taking things one step at a time.
"We start with becoming aware and then doing what we can when we're able," she said. "We have to be patient with ourselves and know that we can't do a 180 overnight. Not everyone can follow a perfectly healthy lifestyle all the time, so leave yourself some room to not be 100 per cent successful."
