Family-based Nutrition Education. Part 4
The LEAP program a family-based nutrition education and physical activity promotion program developed by the OPT for Fit Kids program to address lifestyle changes that promote overweight and weight related health problems among children. At least one parent is required to attend eight weekly sessions with their child in a group setting. During each two-hour session the participants are separated into a child group and a parent group for half the time and work together for the remaining time. A multi-professional staff (registered dietitian, nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and health educator) guides and supports families in making changes in eating and physical activity patterns, lifestyle behaviors, and attitudes toward the achievement and maintenance of a healthy weight. One of the goals of the LEAP program is to decelerate the rate of weight gain among at risk children. Other goals of the program include improved physical activity patterns, communication within families, parental role modeling, and the modification of individual behaviors through nutrition education and problem solving.
The program consists of nutrition education, physical activity, and behavior modification therapy that encourage a lifestyle that is compatible with dietary and activity guidelines for healthy Americans (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000; 2005). For children these goals include physical activity of 60 minutes or more daily and a decrease in sedentary activities and recreational screen time to less than 2 hours daily. The nutrition education component of the program targets reduction in consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and high fat foods and an increase in consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods. A modified “stoplight diet” developed by Epstein and Squires (1988) is used to promote dietary changes. The “stoplight diet” categorizes foods into three groups (red, yellow and green) based on frequency of consumption (rarely, sometimes and anytime). Pedometers are given to all participants to record their daily steps with a goal of at least 10,000 steps each day for parents and 12,000 for children.
Parents and children set their own goals including specific changes in eating and activity behaviors and, if appropriate, weight maintenance or weight loss of no more than two pounds per week. Rewards that are predefined by the family members served as positive reinforcement when their goals are achieved. The participants maintain daily food and activity journals and complete a variety of self-assessments. The LEAP program materials are encapsulated in support guidebooks for parent and child participants. An instructor’s guidebook is also used to ensure consistency in program delivery.