Fit Families Program Improves Self-Perception in Children.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Psychology
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
• Overweight and obese youth often experience low self-esteem and poor self-perception.
• Existing weight management programs may not fully address psychological well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the Fit Families youth weight management program on participants' self-perception.
• To assess changes in self-esteem and social competence alongside physical health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A 7-week Fit Families program was delivered through Cooperative Extension.
• Education focused on healthy eating, physical activity, and building self-esteem.
• The Self-Perception Profile for Children questionnaire was administered to 46 youth pre- and post-program.

Main Results:

• Participants showed significant improvements in self-perception of athletic competence (P=.04).
• Youth also reported enhanced self-perception of physical appearance (P=.007).

Conclusions:

• The Fit Families program demonstrates a holistic approach to weight management.
• Positive self-perception improvements may mitigate mental health challenges like depression and anxiety in obese youth.