What is the effect of ‘usual care’?:

Little was known about intervention programmes for young people with weight issues in New Zealand, and how these programmes could be more effective in addressing physical health, mental health and overall well-being alongside weight reduction. This study reports small reductions in BMI SDS (BMI-for-age using population growth charts) for children in various models of treatment around New Zealand.

Effectiveness of current interventions in obese New Zealand children and adolescents – NZMJ, Anderson et al. 2015

 

What can we learn from Green Prescription Active Families?:

An audit of current ‘Green Prescription Active Families’ programme showed that the programme met some health needs, but not for all families/whānau. Unfortunately those who were often missed were the groups who most needed help. Read more in the audit paper:

The Green Prescription Active Families programme in Taranaki, New Zealand 2007–2009: Did it reach children in need? – JPHC, Anderson et al. 2015

 

Whānau Pakari study protocol:

The Whānau Pakari programme evolved to address some of the barriers found in other healthy lifestyles programmes. It aimed to ensure acceptability to those in Taranaki with the highest need for healthy lifestyle programmes and who may have felt they could not access these services before. Whānau Pakari is family-centred and community-based, with in-home assessments removing the need for a hospital appointment. The protocol below outlines the Whānau Pakari randomised controlled trial, with a ‘control’ group (home-based assessments and advice 6-monthly), compared with an ‘intervention’ group (the same assessment model with additional weekly group sessions offered for 12 months).

The effect of a multi-disciplinary obesity intervention compared to usual practice in those ready to make lifestyle changes: design and rationale of Whānau Pakari – BMC Obesity, Anderson et al. 2015