MRC Epidemiology Unit Studies

Participants were 12 (feasibility) and 42 (pilot) families across Norfolk and Suffolk. Physical (e.g., weight), psychosocial (e.g., social support), and behavioural (e.g., objectively-measured family PA) measures were assessed at 2 time points in both studies. An additional long-term follow up was included for the pilot trial.

Physical activity has been repeatedly and positively associated with beneficial health outcomes for children. We know that being physically active is great for kids’ bone health, heart health, and mental health. Despite this, recent figures suggest that almost 70% of boys, and 80% of girls, do not meet the physical activity recommendation of 60 minutes of physical activity each day. By getting our kids more active, we can help them grow, learn, and have fun. Spending time being active with their families may bring additional benefits, for example, improved family functioning and connectedness.

FRESH (Families Reporting Every to Steps to Health) was an innovative programme that was designed to help families (with a child in Key Stage 2) in Norfolk and Suffolk become more active together. Two FRESH studies were conducted, for which we received support from Active Norfolk and Suffolk County Council. The two FRESH studies included a small short-term feasibility study and a larger pilot trial that included a long-term follow up assessment.

• Information for researchers

Publications

FRESH publications on the MRC Epidemiology Unit publications database.

Research outcomes:

Feasibility study

• All 12 families were retained (32 participants). Parents enjoyed FRESH and all children found it fun. Compared to the child only group, more children in the whole family group wanted to continue with FRESH, found the website easy to use, enjoyed wearing pedometers, and found it easier to reach goals.

• Most families in the child only group would have preferred whole family participation.

• Compared to the child only group, the whole family group exhibited greater website engagement and failed fewer challenges.

• All children enjoyed being part of the evaluation, and adults disagreed that there were too many intervention measures or that data collection took too long.

• Overall, FRESH was feasible and acceptable to participating families, however, findings favoured the group that included the whole family compared to the child-only group. Recruitment, intervention fidelity and delivery, and some measurement procedures are particular areas that require further attention for optimisation ahead of the FRESH pilot trial.

• Download the feasibility study report “The development and feasibility of a randomised family-based physical activity promotion intervention: the Families Reporting Every Step to Health (FRESH) study”

Pilot study - selected publications

• Guagliano JM, Brown HE, Coombes E, Haines ES, Hughes C, Jones AP, Morton KL, and van Sluijs EMF. Whole family-based physical activity promotion intervention: The Families Reporting Every Step to Health pilot randomised controlled trial protocol BMJ Open (2019)

• Guagliano JM, Brown HE, Coombes E, et al. The development and feasibility of a randomised family-based physical activity promotion intervention: the Families Reporting Every Step to Health (FRESH) study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies (2019)

• Uijtdewilligen L, Brown HE, Müller‐Riemenschneider F, et al. A systematic review of methods to measure family co‐participation in physical activity. Obesity Reviews (2017)

• Brown HE, Atkin AJ, Panter J, et al. Family‐based interventions to increase physical activity in children: a systematic review, meta‐analysis and realist synthesis. Obesity Reviews (2016)

• Brown HE, Schiff A, van Sluijs EMF. Engaging families in physical activity research: a family-based focus group study. BMC Public Health (2015)

• Brown HE, Atkin AJ, Panter J, et al. Family-based interventions to increase physical activity in children: A meta-analysis and realist synthesis protocol. BMJ Open (2014)

FRESH videos