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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Nov-Dec;34(6):575-583.
doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2020.06.012. Epub 2020 Sep 9.

Adolescents as Agents of Parental Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Change: COPE Healthy Lifestyles TEEN Program

Stephanie Kelly, Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, Jacqueline Hoying
Randomized Controlled Trial

Adolescents as Agents of Parental Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Change: COPE Healthy Lifestyles TEEN Program

Stephanie Kelly et al. J Pediatr Health Care. 2020 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a leading health crisis around the world. An intervention strategy scarcely utilized for behavior change is that of a child as change agent. The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of teens reviewing newsletters from a healthy lifestyle intervention with their parents.

Method: Evaluation data from a randomized controlled trial, COPE Healthy Lifestyle TEEN Program, was analyzed. A descriptive study was conducted of parents' and teens' lifestyle behaviors as reported by parents.

Results: One hundred sixty-nine parents completed evaluations. Two thirds of parents reported changing a behavior as a result of the program. Nearly three quarters of parents reported behavior changes in their teens. Over 90% reported they would recommend this or a similar program.

Discussion: The obesity epidemic shows no signs of reversal, and hence multiple approaches to impact healthy lifestyles are urgent. Including children as a change agent is a potential target for interventions addressing obesity.

Keywords: Healthy lifestyles; adolescent; change agent.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None to report.

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