Mediators of weight loss in the 'Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids' pilot study for overweight fathers

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Short Paper

Anthony D Okely¹  Robin Callister²  Philip J Morgan³  David R Lubans³  Clare E Collins⁴  Tracy Burrows⁴ 

[1] Interdisciplinary Educational Research Institute, University of Wollongong, 2522, Wollongong, NSW, Australia;Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia;School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, 2308, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia;School of Education, Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle, 2308, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia;School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, 2308, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia;

关键词: Physical activity;    Mediation;    Diet;    Nutrition;    Weigh loss;    Intervention;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1479-5868-9-45

 received in 2011-09-23, accepted in 2012-04-18,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundA poor understanding of the specific lifestyle behaviors that result in weight loss has hindered the development of effective interventions. The aim of this paper was to identify potential behavioral mediators of weight loss in the Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids (HDHK) intervention for overweight fathers.FindingsThe three-month intervention was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial and conducted in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Baseline, three month (immediate post-intervention) and six month assessments were conducted. Recruitment and follow-up occurred between October 2008 and May 2009. The study sample included 53 overweight/obese men [mean ( SD) age=40.6( 97.1) years; body mass index (BMI)=33.2 (3.9) kgm-2] and their primary school-aged children [n=71, 54% boys; age=8.2 (2.0) years] who were randomized to HDHK program or a wait-list control group. Physical activity (PA) was assessed using pedometers and dietary behaviors were measured using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The intervention resulted in significant weight loss (5.131.27kg, P<0.0001) and increased PA among fathers (2769750 steps/day, P<0.001) and their children (1486521 steps/day, P<0.01). Fathers PA mediated weight loss in the intervention (AB=2.31, 95% CI=4.63 to 0.67) and was responsible for 47% of the intervention effect. Changes in dietary behaviors were not statistically significant.ConclusionsPA was an important mediator of weight loss in the HDHK intervention. Encouraging overweight fathers to be more active with their children appears to be a promising strategy for obesity treatment in men.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Lubans et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012