The program is a WIN-WIN situation as you the partner and also the mother benefit too!

HDHK works best if the whole family is onside and wanting to improve the quality of life. Attempted changes are always more successful if they can occur in a supportive environment.

This is where partners come in. You are encouraged to ask  both dads and kids about what they are learning in the program and we suggest looking at some of the content handbooks of participants to understand what they are learning each week in the HDHK program and what to expect from them.

Be warned though!  There will be many instances where you feel like you need to say ‘ I told you so’ or there will be key messages that you know you’ve been trying to tell your partner for years and that he never would  listen to.  Rest assured, we have thought of this also … it is a hidden aspect of what the program is about.

The program is designed specifically in that it ‘talks to blokes in a language they understand’. There will be new ideas that you can explore yourself that will benefit the entire family.

The dads will come to the realisation that the program is beneficial and see how some healthy lifestyle behaviours might be relevant or needed to change in their own individual family situation.

If you have any questions along the way please feel free to contact us, we are always more than happy to discuss any aspect of the program.

THEN HDHK IS FOR YOU!

By registering for the HDHK program you will be setting your children up for a healthy life. You and your family will learn about the latest information on healthy eating and physical activity. Along with the information sessions, families will participate in fun physical activities that can be used at home.

Register now!

• Male
• Aged 21 to 65 years
• A parent/guardian/grandfather of a child aged 5 to 12 years (i.e. primary school age)

Participants will be ineligible if :

• They have a history of major medical problems such as heart disease in the last 5 years, diabetes, or orthopaedic or joint problems that would be a barrier to physical activity

All participants will need to complete the HDHK registration process online (including the HDHK survey and pre-exercise screener), be available to attend the nine week program and will need to have access to a computer with e-mail and Internet facilities.

Any participant over the age of 40 will be instructed they need to receive a doctor’s clearance before enrolling in the study.

Fathers:

• reduced their waist circumference
• reduced their blood pressure and resting heart rate
• increased their rates of physical activity
• decreased their kilojoule intake
• improved their overall diet

Importantly, fathers maintained improvements from 3- to 6-months after the program, despite no contact between researchers and participants.

Fig. 1 – Fathers in the HDHK program lost more weight than those who did not receive the program (control group) and weight loss was sustained longer term (3 months and 6 months).

85% of participants lost greater than 5% of their body weight

Fig. 1 – Weight loss graph

Fig. 2 – Dads in the HDHK program decreased their waist circumference.

Feedback from Dads reported how much they noticed their clothes sizes had changed.

Fig. 3 – A noticeable change in dads BMI was calculated resulting directly from the HDHK program.

Fig 3 – Graph of BMI dads

Body Mass Index (BMI) is one measure commonly used to measure overweight and obesity. The BMI is a relationship between weight and height that is associated with body fat, nutritional status and health risk.

BMI is determined by your weight in kg divided by your (height in metres).

You can calculate your own BMI using this online calculator BMI calculator

Concerned about the quality of foods your child eats?

If your answer is “yes” then make the Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids program your first step in changing your diet and life-style.

Need some convincing, read some of our testimonials Shannyn Robard’s or Mark Philpott’s experience after they completed the program.

Statistics show that almost two thirds of men in the community are overweight. This is concerning as overweight fathers are more likely to have overweight children and yet men are less likely to attempt weight loss than women.

The majority of family-based treatment and prevention programs to address overweight have mostly focussed on mothers and the contribution of the fathers’ influence on their childrens’ physical activity and eating behaviour is often overlooked.

Fathers have an important task within the family as role models and facilitators for good eating habits and physical activity levels. Fathers who are active, who engage with their children in games and activities, are more likely to have children who are also physically active.

Research has also shown that physically active children are more likely to maintain a good weight and have better school performance.  Fathers who model good eating habits in the home that include fruit and vegetables are more likely to have children who also eat a wide range of foods.

HDHK is a program which addresses men’s weight, as well as promoting the important position of fathers as role models and facilitators within the family.

During the nine weeks of the program you will learn about:

• good eating for yourself and your children
• tips for encouraging children to eat fruit and vegetables
• ways to get both yourself and your children moving and having fun at the same time.