Family Planning to promote regular physical activity: A randomized controlled trial

The number Canadian adults and children with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors is alarming, and a great burden on the Canadian health care system. Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for CVD and obesity; yet its prevalence is high among children and their parents. Family-based physical activity interventions may arguably be the most important target for CVD prevention, yet parents are burdened by excessive time demands that lower the achievement of physical activity. Our pilot study has shown that teaching parents how to organize and plan family physical activity, using state-of-the-art planning resources, can improve their physical activity. In this study we will expand on the pilot results by randomly assigning families with at least one child between 6 and 12 years old, into either an intervention group, or a standard condition group. The intervention will include planning material on how families can be more active, together. We will measure their level of activity, motivations, and beliefs after six months. Clearly the prevention of CVD through the promotion of physical activity is an important research area. Our intervention represents a low-cost, potentially effective method of physical activity promotion that could result in improved physical activity habits and thus family health.