Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2026

Cooking, kin and care close to home: Participant experiences of a scaled-out, family-centred, community-based healthy lifestyle program in Perth, Western Australia.  (144289)

Katie M Iwanowski 1 2 3 , Stephen Paull 1 2 3 , Tania Harris 4 , Kieran Bindanheem 4 , Emma Grant 4 , Yvonne C Anderson 1 2 3 , Stephanie Smith 1 2 3
  1. Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
  2. Child and Adolescent Community Health, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia , Perth, WA, Australia
  3. The Kids Research Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
  4. Health Consumers' Council WA, Mt Lawley, WA, Australia

Background: Childhood obesity is a health issue which continues into adulthood with adverse health consequences.1 Interventions to address obesity are recommended,2 thus scaling interventions to benefit more individuals is a current priority. Perspectives of intervention recipients should be included when adapting programs for scale. This study aimed to understand participant experiences after 6 months of participation in a Healthy Lifestyle Program in Perth, Western Australia, scaled-out from Aotearoa/New Zealand.3

Methods: This interpretivist, qualitative study explored experiences of children and young people aged 4-16 years living with obesity, and their caregivers, after 6-months of participation in the Healthy Lifestyle Program.  Focus groups were conducted in July and October 2025 and were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis.4

Results: Children (n=6) and caregivers (n=7) participated in three focus groups. Three themes were identified: Participant experience and satisfaction, program inclusivity, and building healthy family habits. Participants described their overall experience of the program, favouring hands-on activities and care closer to home. The care provided was described as flexible, inclusive, safe and respectful, although suitability for children with neurodiversity was mixed.  Health checks were a vehicle for goal setting and evaluating progress and program staff were viewed as ‘partners’ in supporting parental behaviour change messaging, rather than ‘experts’. Participants described how program elements enabled healthy lifestyle change and the overall complexities of making such changes. 

Conclusion: Flexible, respectful child- and family-centred care is critical in childhood obesity interventions. Development and adaptations in collaboration with recipients are required to deliver programs at scale. Future program considerations should include supporting participants with neurodiversity to support increasing prevalence.