Fit Bodies

Introduction

Project concept

‘Fit Bodies’ is an 8-week healthy living course, combining physical activity and food or health topics, aimed at parents involved in Sure Start programmes.

‘Fit Bodies’ was developed in response to an expressed need by ‘Sure Start’ parents in the local community, who wanted input combining physical activity with food skills development. As a consequence the Community Dietician attached to the ‘Sure Start’ Programme developed an 8-week course. It combines practical physical activity with food and health topics. She used these tangible plans as a basis for winning funding from the ‘Sure Start’ Programme running in N. Tyneside. Key partners are ‘Sure Start’ and Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust.

The Community Dietician pointed out that North Tyneside Council has adopted a new physical activity strategy (‘More people, more active, more often’) and she felt that ‘Fit Bodies’ would contribute towards meeting these strategic aims/targets. However, there was no specific mention of ‘Fit Bodies’ in any documentation linked to this strategy.

Partner Organisations:

Sure Start
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust
(North Tyneside Council)

Project purpose

The overall aim of the course is:

‘To promote the importance of physical activity and healthy eating for adults’.
Specifically, the Community Dietician identified the following objectives (although these are not documented):
to increase confidence
to promote engagement in physical activity
to enhance food skills
to improve food and physical activity knowledge
to promote maintenance of physical activity.

Methodology

The project is targeted at parents of children aged 0-4 (but in reality, the uptake of ‘Fit Bodies’ has been exclusively by women). Parents became involved with the publicity for the course by producing small flyers (3" by 2"), which were distributed to other parents in a variety of settings.

Because of the inherent ethos of the ‘Sure Start’ Programme, which targets action in areas of deprivation, the ‘Fit Bodies’ course is promoted in low-income neighbourhoods.

The potential users of the ‘Fit Bodies’ course are identified through ‘Sure Start’ networks including: Holiday play schemes; ‘Kids Fit For Life’ Event (a one day event on a Saturday held in a leisure centre combining physical activity and healthy eating sessions); ‘Be Safe/Be Sure’ event (an evening event pre-bonfire night targeted at parents); ‘Sure Start’ consent forms (which are used for parents to sign up to a range of ‘Sure Start’ Courses), and by word of mouth.

Specific needs assessment of the target audience was not undertaken as the Community Dietician felt she knew the target audience through her involvement with other ‘Sure Start’ initiatives.

Project Outline

It comprises an 8-week course, with each session lasting two and a half hours and is free of charge. Each session is split into two elements of one hour physical activity (including different activities such as Tai Chi, aerobics, pilates, yoga, etc.) followed by one hour on a food/ health topic which is pre-negotiated with the group according to needs and relevance.

The content of the food/health sessions covers a range of topics including Balance of Good Health, salt, fat, etc. Each session is planned around active learning principles and a variety of teaching methods are used, including quizzes, games, group discussions, etc.

Funding

The N. Tyneside ‘Sure Start’ Programme provided an initial years funding (starting March 2003) to set up and run the ‘Fit Bodies’ course. The Community Dietician estimated that each 8 week course cost between £800 - £1000 (including the costs of running a crèche)

Barriers

Sourcing appropriate fitness professionals to provide continuity and to meet the specific physical activity needs of the group.

Pressure on the Community Dietician’s time (only employed 2 days/week with ‘Sure Start’). The initial uptake of the ‘Fit Bodies’ programme was higher than expected, and extra courses were needed to meet the demand.

Identifying and sourcing on-going support for participants completing the course. Parents finishing the course were keen to continue meeting but there are currently no suitable networks to refer them on to.

The Community Dietician is exploring options for securing more funding for longer- term support for groups formed through the ‘Fit Bodies’ programme.

Evaluation

Many parents said they had benefited from the ‘Fit Bodies’ sessions including:

increased confidence
enjoyment of the sessions, particularly taking part in activities together
increased understanding about food and the skills required for food preparation

Each 8-week course is evaluated through feedback from the learners (see back up pack for an example of the evaluation form used).

Although not formally analysed and written up, information gathered on the evaluation forms are used to further develop the course. The main change following this reflective process has been to introduce different types of physical activity each week.

Sustainability/future plans

‘Sure Start’ has funding allocations beyond March 2004 subject to a review process. The ‘Sure Start’ Health Manager felt that the course had been positively received by parents and therefore was regarded as ‘successful’, although no hard data on outcomes was available. She felt that the course contributed to the same targets as for ‘Sure Start’, which are concerned with the delivery of training to target numbers of parents.

Other community dieticians hope to set up ‘Fit Bodies’ in neighbouring areas of N. Tyneside so widening the target audience and ensuring the project becomes part of mainstream dietetic activity.

Lessons Learnt

Secure funding to resource: crèche facilities; a fitness professional. Identify target audience needs at the outset

Target the local authority initially to access the fitness professional resource, to ensure continuity of the relationship between the learners and instructor. This is vital to the success of the programme, when learners are trying new activities outside their experience

Recruit a health visitor to support the sessions. Advertise the courses to the target audience through a variety of routes, such as: local newsletters and newspapers, posters, flyers, events.

Use evaluative data from previous courses as an evidence base for effectiveness. Set up a crèche as part of the project. Include incentives to motivate the target audience to attend e.g. Certificate of attendance; personalised record card. Include a variety of activities within the physical activity section. Make sure the venue is suitable for the sessions.

Lead contact:

Contact: Katie Moir
Job Title: Community Dietician
Address:
Sir GB Hunter Hospital
The Green
Wallsend
NE28 7PB
Tel: 0191 220 5945
Email: Katie.Moir@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk

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