Championing against diabetes

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By Heather Travis
Monday, July 28, 2008
Faculty of Health Sciences assistant professor Shauna Burke is hoping to bring the number of local obese children at risk for Type 2 diabetes down to size.
 
Burke is the lead researcher for the Children’s Health and Activity Modification Program (C.H.A.M.P.): A community-based lifestyle intervention for obese children at risk for Type 2 diabetes and their families. The program is held at the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging at The University of Western Ontario.
 
“It is a really serious issue, but there are ways to address it in a fun and supportive way,” Burke says. “This is a really exciting and unique program in London.”
 
The four-week session begins Aug. 5 and Burke is recruiting 24 children between the ages eight and 14 years old from London and the surrounding area and their families to participate. The youth must have a body mass index greater than 95 per cent for their age and gender, as well as have a general medical assessment and be given written clearance to begin the program.
 
“Childhood obesity is an expanding problem and, as such, so is the link between obesity and the risk for Type 2 diabetes,” says Burke.
 
Participants will engage in group-based physical activities and will be taught behavior modification, such as monitoring the types of foods they consume. Families will also be taught new strategies and tools that can be applied in the home to encourage healthy eating and staying active.
 
The program is designed to prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes and is not intended for children with the disease. A similar program will also be held in August 2009 for which Burke is hoping to recruit 48 children to participate in C.H.A.M.P.
 
“This is not a weight loss program or a bootcamp,” she says. “It is about offering fun activities in a supportive environment.”
 
Burke said it is important that family members get involved in the program. They will be encouraged to participate in weekly educational sessions, including those focusing on promoting self-esteem at home and anti-bullying.
 
As well, participants will be given a family membership at the YMCA of London for the month.
 
“This program is an opportunity to work with the entire family … (and) address some of the non-visual issues associated with being overweight,” she says.
 
The research goal of the program is to increase the children’s physical activity behaviours, to improve physiological and psychological outcomes and to assess the overall effectiveness of the program, says Burke. Any weight loss experienced by the children will be a bonus, she adds.
 
“I think that focusing on promoting self-esteem in a non-threatening environment will have a positive effect,” she says.
 
Burke also says the children will benefit from participating in the program with peers facing similar weight issues.
 
“It’s an opportunity to make life-long friends and develop relationships for them and their families,” she says.
 
Following the program, families will receive post-intervention support three, six and 12 months later. If participants are willing to continue with the program, Burke says researchers will follow up with the children and their families once a year for five years.
 
“This could be an effective way to combat diabetes in the future,” says Burke.
 
The program is run Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekend family education sessions will be held every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 
The cost of the program is $200, which includes transportation, the YMCA family membership, weekly field trips, T-shirts and hats, among other items, however food will not be provided.
 
Those interested in the program can contact Burke at sburke9@uwo.ca or call 519-850-2309.

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