Publications by authors named "Anna M Dawson"
Objective: To determine whether a 2-year family-based intervention using frequent contact and limited expert involvement was effective in reducing excessive weight compared with usual care.
Methods: Two hundred and six overweight and obese (BMI ≥85th percentile) children aged 4 to 8 years were randomized to usual care (UC) or tailored package (TP) sessions at university research rooms. UC families received personalized feedback and generalized advice regarding healthy lifestyles at baseline and 6 months.
Objective: To determine what factors are associated with parental motivation to change body weight in overweight children.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: Dunedin, New Zealand.
Objectives: As parents of young children are often unaware their child is overweight, screening provides the opportunity to inform parents and provide the impetus for behaviour change. We aimed to determine if parents could recall and understand the information they received about their overweight child after weight screening.
Design: Randomised controlled trial of different methods of feedback.
Using motivational interviewing for weight feedback to parents of young children.
J Paediatr Child Health
June 2014
Aim: To determine whether a single session of motivational interviewing (MI) for feedback of a child's overweight status promotes engagement in treatment following screening.
Methods: One thousand ninety-three children aged 4-8 years were recruited through primary and secondary care to attend health screening, including assessment of parenting practices and motivation (questionnaire). Families with normal-weight children were informed about their child's weight but had no further involvement.
Objectives: To determine what factors drive participation in a family-based weight management program for 4- to 8-year-old children following screening for overweight or obesity.
Study Design: Children (n = 1093) attended a comprehensive screening appointment where parents completed questionnaires on demographics, motivation for healthy lifestyles, feeding practices, and beliefs about child size, prior to feedback about the child's weight. Parents of overweight or obese children (body mass index ≥85th percentile) attended a follow-up interview to assess reactions to feedback and willingness to participate in a 2-year intervention.
How parents feed their children may impact on their weight and eating behaviours, both now and in the future. The Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ) proposes to measure parental feeding practices and was originally developed using 12 factors in relatively small, homogenous samples. In contrast the present study used a large, diverse sample (n=1013) of children aged 4-8years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Because parental recognition of overweight in young children is poor, we need to determine how best to inform parents that their child is overweight in a way that enhances their acceptance and supports motivation for positive change. This study will assess 1) whether weight feedback delivered using motivational interviewing increases parental acceptance of their child's weight status and enhances motivation for behaviour change, and 2) whether a family-based individualised lifestyle intervention, delivered primarily by a MInT mentor with limited support from "expert" consultants in psychology, nutrition and physical activity, can improve weight outcomes after 12 and 24 months in young overweight children, compared with usual care.
Methods/design: 1500 children aged 4-8 years will be screened for overweight (height, weight, waist, blood pressure, body composition).