Project seeks families to participate in research to decrease childhood obesity

LINC researchers are studying strategies that physicians, community groups and families can use to help children become more physically active and make good decisions about food choices. They have created a registry of families interested in participating in this research; those who wish to sign up for the registry should call (866) 344-8154 or email families@unc.edu. There is no charge to participate.

“Parents today know their children should be more active to be healthy,” says Dr. Dianne Ward, the UNC director of research for Get Kids in Action and professor of nutrition in UNC’s schools of public health and medicine.

“What parents need are the resources and tools to make that happen. We’re hoping that many families will sign on to the registry and help us figure out how to help children be healthier.”

Any family unit with at least one child between the ages of 4 and 8 can sign up. Children don’t need to be overweight or at risk for obesity, although some of the studies will focus on such at-risk types.

“What we really need is a pool of people willing to help solve the looming public health problem of overweight in children,” Ward said.

LINC studies will vary. Some studies may give families photo-equipped cell phones to assist parents with measuring their children’s diet, and some may use text messaging to help children and parents make healthy diet choices. Other studies may involve installing monitoring devices to measure how much time children spend watching television. Studies also could include participation in interviews, focus groups or surveys.

In a recent LINC study, participants ages 7 and 8 were given the “Dance Dance Revolution” video game and asked to dance with the game several times a week. Although study findings have not been fully analyzed, informal study feedback has been positive, said Dr. Ann Maloney, research fellow in the UNC School of Medicine’s department of psychiatry and the study’s principal investigator.

One parent reported, “Participating in the ‘Dancer’ study was a fabulous way for our family to be active in the home. My daughter still dances every week, even though the study has ended.”

In a recent Orange County (N.C.) Get Kids in Action pilot project, called “Get 60,” UNC student-athletes visited elementary schools for six weeks to inspire the children to participate in 60 minutes of daily physical activity. The UNC student-athletes helped the children identify activities best suited for them, led them in weekly physical activity sessions and helped them record their progress on an activity tracker.

“The ‘Get 60 Program’ was enormously popular with the children and the schools,” said Dr. Julie Marks, a postdoctoral fellow in nutrition at UNC’s School of Public Health and associate director of research for Get Kids in Action.

“What is unusual about the LINC research we’re doing now is that the studies involve working with families who have often been overlooked in research like this, in spite of the fact that the family unit is really one of the most important starting places for healthy living.”

For more information about Get Kids in Action and tips about exercise, eating and healthy families, visit www.getkidsinaction.org.

The Gatorade-UNC partnership counts toward the Carolina First campaign goal of $1.8 billion. Carolina First is a comprehensive, multi-year private fund-raising campaign to support Carolina’s vision of becoming the nation’s leading public university.

Gatorade is the official sports drink of the NFL, NBA, WNBA, Major League Baseball and numerous other professional, collegiate and amateur teams and events worldwide. Gatorade is manufactured by PepsiCo Beverages and Foods, a division of PepsiCo. Research on the effects of exercise, environment, nutrition and hydration is conducted at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.

For further information please contact Ramona DuBose by email at ramona_dubose@unc.edu