Source: International Journal of Obesity, advance online publication

Authors: PJ Morgan, DR Lubans, R Callister, AD Okely, TL Burrows, R Fletcher and CE Collins

Commentary by Rona Macniven, Cluster for Physical Activity and Health (CPAH), University of Sydney

This study evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of the ‘Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids’ (HDHK) program, which took place in Newcastle, NSW. It was designed to help overweight fathers lose weight and be a role model of positive health behaviors for their children, and resulted in reductions in fathers’ weight over the 6-month assessment period.

‘Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids’ used a randomized controlled trial design and involved 53 overweight/obese men and their 71 primary school-aged children assigned, as a family unit, to either the HDHK program or a wait-list control group. The intervention consisted of eight face-to-face education sessions for fathers over 3 months, including three practical sessions for both fathers and their children involving fitness activities and fundamental movement skills. Weight of fathers (primary outcome measure) and their children was assessed at baseline, and at 3 and 6-month follow-up. Waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, resting heart rate (RHR), physical activity (objectively measured using a pedometer) and self-reported dietary intake were also measured.

After six months, fathers in the intervention group lost significantly more weight than those in the control group (-7.6 kg vs 0.0 kg). There were also significantly improved post-intervention outcomes among fathers for waist circumference (d=0.62), BMI (d=0.53), systolic blood pressure (d=0.92), RHR (d=0.66) and physical activity (d=0.91), but not for dietary intake. In children, the results differed slightly with significant treatment effects for physical activity (d=0.74), RHR (d=0.51) and dietary intake (d¼0.84) but not weight, waist circumference or blood pressure.

This is a novel intervention which demonstrates desired outcomes for weight loss, increased physical activity and other health-related outcomes in fathers and improved eating and physical activity in their children. It provides sound evidence in support of future weight loss and physical activity interventions to focus on fathers as family role models. In addition, process evaluation findings showed popularity and acceptance of the program, further underlying its success.

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