University of Rochester (UR) Medical Center's Golisano Children's Hospital, together with several universities are taking part in a family-based childhood obesity study that will involve over 600 families of children between the ages of 6 and 12. Local recruitment of families is set to begin next year.
"A lot of families do know what is healthy versus unhealthy," said Dr. Cook, the study's lead researcher in an interview 13WHAM News. "We're really getting at what are some of their drivers for decisions as opposed to teaching them a diet plan or teaching them an exercise routine," Cook said. Cook is an associate professor of Pediatrics at UR's Golisano Children's Hospital.
URMC participates in family-based childhood obesity study https://t.co/xFzS4w0Oao #13WHAM
— 13WHAM (@13WHAM) July 26, 2016
Educating Parents About Childhood Obesity
The Fairport-East Rochester Post reported that the study will examine if a childhood obesity program involving both parents and children would be effective. The program will reportedly teach them how to change their attitude and behavior on food, exercise and stressful situations.
This is contrary to traditional obesity programs that focus on the patient. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health, with a budget of $9.6 million. UR Medical Center's Golisano Children's Hospital will get $2.6 million from this total fund.
Different Universities Part Of Childhood Obesity Study
According to a UR Medical Center news release, the childhood obesity treatment program that will be tested in the study will be integrated into the primary care setting. Integration of the childhood obesity treatment program is said to open up its adoption by pediatricians and family physicians.
Cook was quoted as saying that the childhood obesity program will usher in a change in mindset and behavior for both the child and the families that will take part in the study. Besides UR Medical Center's Golisano Children's Hospital, the University of Buffalo, Washington University in St. Louis, and Nationwide Children's Hospital at Ohio State University will also take part in the childhood obesity study.
