MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition.. Do It!) is a free healthy lifestyle program for preschoolers (aged between two and four years) and their families. The program is part of a study being conducted by Deakin University. Parents who take part in the program will be required to participate in the research study which will involve being randomly placed in one of two groups: the healthy-lifestyle program group or the control wait-list group.
Participation in the healthy-lifestyle group will involve:
- Attendance at a free MEND 2-4 program involves 10 weekly 90 minute workshops relating to general nutrition and physical activity. The MEND 2-4 program will be held at a local community health and maternal and child health centre, where your and your preschooler attend together.
- Completion of a series of questionnaires at four time points - at the very start of the program, and at 10 weeks, six months and 12 months after the program has been completed. Questionnaires will take approximately 40-70 minutes to complete each time. Measurements of height and weight will be taken by a researcher for parents and their child at each point of assessment.
Participation in the control wait-list group will involve:
- Being offered the free healthy-lifestyle MEND 2-4 program 15 months after the time you start the study. Parents and children in this group will be assessed (same measures as healthy-lifestyle program group) at the start of the study and will have follow-up assessments at the same time as the healthy-lifestyle program group (10 weeks, six months and 12 months later), with height and weight measurements taken as for the healthy-lifestyle program group.
Parents who take part in this study will be entered into a prize draw to win one of four $250, six $100, or eight $50 gift vouchers. Places into this program / research study are limited.
A program will be offered in Eltham, commencing in Term 1 of 2011.
If you are interested in participating in this research or would like more information about the study, please email Briony Hill or phone 9244 6538.
