Reducing obesity in pre-school children: Implementation and Effectiveness of the HENRY Programme, Luton, UK

Abstract

The HENRY Programme trains Early Years Practitioners (suitable for Health Visitors, Midwives, Children’s Centre workers, Nutritionists, Dieticians and Childminders) usually based in Children’s Centres to facilitate groups with families and carers of 0 to 5 year olds. The eight week programme (2.5 hours per week) builds upon mutual support and praise, with families and facilitators working together to focus on factors known to be associated with later obesity. The approach is based on behaviour change and self management techniques. The study design is a process and outcome evaluation using a mixed method approach. The process evaluation aims to understand how and why the intervention was adopted, drivers and barriers to implementation and the role of context. With respect to HENRY this will involve semi-structured interviews with families, staff and stakeholders at agreed time points throughout the delivery of the HENRY Programme, and observations of staff training and HENRY sessions and settings. ISRCTN62454430