Perception of Self Motivates Obese Children To Make Changes

A research team from Loma Linda University will present findings from a recent study in the Growing Fit Program at the University and Loma Linda University Children's Hospital at the 2006 Pediatric Academic Societies' Annual Meeting in San Francisco from April 29 to May 2. The Loma Linda University research team's presentation will take place on Tuesday, May 2, at 2:00 p.m. at the Moscone West Convention Center Room 3001.

The study examined physical and psychological characteristics of the children attending the Growing Fit Program to try to identify what relationships may be occurring that may motivate change. It is understood that relationships are vital to behavior change, and for children the parents are key, but the study was designed to identify what factors about the children themselves may be motivating them to desire a change. This study found that the percentage of body fat did not relate to readiness to change, however, perceptions of social, intellectual, and physical self did. This reflects that the higher the child's level of self-esteem the more powerful this is in motivating healthy changes. It indicated that self-esteem was a much more powerful motivator than their actual size, as measured by their percentage of body fat, in the children wanting to make changes in their eating habits and exercise patterns.

The full results of the study will be presented by the Growing Fit team, which consists of Kiti Freier, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist, director, Kim Hamai, MD, medical director, Terrie Naramor, PhD, counseling unit coordinator, and Amy Beck, student clinic and research coordinator.

The Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Annual Meeting is the largest international meeting that focuses on research in child health. The PAS consists of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Pediatric Society, and Society for Pediatric Research.