Is
SHAPEDOWN Right For Me?
Not
necessarily. That's why care begins with a biopsychosocial assessment
by your SHAPEDOWN Provider (older children and adolescents can receive
a full computerized Y.E.S. assessment). Through it you learn all the
areas you are already healthy in and the things to focus on to get the
best results with your weight. The right care for you may involve SHAPEDOWN,
in a group or individually, and/or other kinds of treatment.
Should
all kids be thin?
No. Children come in all sizes and shapes that are perfectly
normal. The goal in SHAPEDOWN is for the child or teen to gradually
attain their genetic body build, which ranges from willowy to rounded.
What
if the weight is genetic?
The
goal of those with simple genetic obesity is to accept their genetic
body build, to develop healthful habits and to avoid the dieting psychology,
all of which are addressed in SHAPEDOWN.
Is
SHAPEDOWN Safe?
Weight
loss for children and teens can be hazardous. Rapid weight loss or
strict diets can affect the growth and development, promote binge
eating, slow metabolism and result in weight gain. SHAPEDOWN is safe.
It encourages a gradual, safe weight loss or the maintenance of weight
as the child grows.
Is
SHAPEDOWN Effective?
Yes. Controlled studies have shown that when families participate
in SHAPEDOWN, there is significant improvement in weight, self-esteem,
depression, diet and exercise habits and weight management knowledge.
However, progress varies depending on how open to change the child
and family are.
How
Long Does It Take?
SHAPEDOWN may be in a group format or on a individual counseling
basis. Group programs include an intensive, 10-week schedule with
meetings of about 2 hours weekly to give families basic SHAPEDOWN
training. They can continue care through ADVANCED SHAPEDOWN, a nurturing
support program that deepens and extends their progress. ADVANCED
SHAPEDOWN meets weekly or biweekly for 20 weeks or more. Children
love the SHAPEDOWN groups, a chance to be with other kids. Parents
receive support from other parents and delight in their child's progress.
Who
Teaches SHAPEDOWN?
The typical SHAPEDOWN Program is delivered by a primary
instructor, who may be a registered dietitian, a mental health professional,
an exercise specialist, registered nurse or physician. All SHAPEDOWN
Providers, in addition to their own professional training, complete
46 hours of clinical education in child and adolescent obesity from
the University of California, San Francisco.
How
Does SHAPEDOWN Work?
SHAPEDOWN builds on the strength of the family. It gently
and effectively supports families in creating an active lifestyle
and a healthy but not depriving diet. Parents tune up their nurturing
skills to curb their child's emotional overeating and sharpen their
limit setting skills to prompt their child toward a healthier lifestyle.
The child accepts more responsibility for diet and activity and feels
happier and safer. Food becomes less important, activity more exciting
and the child's weight begins to normalize.
What
Other Therapies Are Involved?
SHAPEDOWN not only helps families target changes in nutrition and
activity but focuses on common underlying factors that fuel a child's
excessive appetite for food and inactive pursuits. Although exercise
physiology, nutrition and behavioral techniques are used, the power
in SHAPEDOWN comes from its sensitive, entertaining and practical
use of family therapy and psychoeducational techniques.
Is
There A Diet?
No. Diets typically cause children to feel deprived and,
as a consequence, to overeat. Instead, SHAPEDOWN supports gradually
adopting a moderate food intake that provides essential nutrients
based on the Recommended Dietary Allowances and the National Cholesterol
Education Program Guidelines.
What
About Exercise?
SHAPEDOWN stresses overall fitness, including endurance,
flexibility and strength. Children and parents develop a more active
lifestyle and replace television viewing and other inactive pursuits
with chores, interest, sports and projects.
What
Else Is Addressed?
A wide range of strategies help the child and parent take
care of their emotional and physical health. For example, children
learn techniques that effectively stop peer teasing. Parents free
themselves from the weightism of our society. Families learn communication
techniques to resolve conflicts.
Is
SHAPEDOWN right for us?
SHAPEDOWN caters to diversity. There are four developmental
levels of SHAPEDOWN, each sensitive to the educational, social and
emotional stages of the child. Ethnic, cultural and economic differences
are reflected in the program as are a range of family types, such
as single parents and blended families.
Does
SHAPEDOWN treat parents too?
In SHAPEDOWN, the whole family changes so parents often
see weight loss and sustainable improvements in their diet, activity,
blood pressure and serum cholesterol. However, overweight parents
need a comprehensive assessment from their own health care provider
to determine the best form of care for them.
Which
parent should attend?
If both parents reside in the area, both parents should
attend. Also, step-parents, aunts and friends or anyone who takes
a parenting role, is encouraged to participate. If one parent is more
removed from a child, their presence may be even more important. Questions
about your particular situation should be discussed with your SHAPEDOWN
Provider.
Research has
shown repeatedly that without a family approach, all treatments -
diet, exercise, behavioral approaches - are ineffective. It is only
by building on the strength of the family that child obesity programs
have their long lasting, beneficial effect on weight.
What
if parents don't want to eat healthy and exercise?
Then SHAPEDOWN is not right for the child. The SHAPEDOWN
philosophy is that parents should not ask of their child anything
they are not willing to do themselves. However, the SHAPEDOWN lifestyle
changes are gentle and flexible and fit into the priorities and capabilities
of most parents.
Here
are some facts about child and adolescent obesity . . .
27 percent of
children and 21 percent of teens are obese, an increase of 54 percent
in the last 20 years.
Overweight in
young people is diverse in cause and consequence and benefits from
an individual assessment to develop an individualized care plan.
50% to 70% of
the obese young will be obese adults. Family weight problems, severe
obesity and the your person's age increase risk that the obesity will
persist into adulthood.
The medical consequences
of obesity vary. However, obese children and teens have an increased
prevalence of hypertension, respiratory problems, hyperlipidemia,
bone and joint difficulties, hyperinsulinemia, and irregular periods.
The psychosocial
disadvantages of overweight in the young include peer teasing, scholastic
disrimination, low self-esteem and negative body image.
Weight difficulties
in children and adolescents are highly treatable when a family-based
approach is used. Studies have shown that if the treatment includes
parents and focuses on the family's lifestyle and communication, weight
loss is maintained, on the average, even at five and ten year follow-up.
The SHAPEDOWN Getting Started Family Pack
The first step to getting started with SHAPEDOWN is to order:
1. An age-appropriate SHAPEDOWN Workbook for your child or teenager
and
2. A companion SHAPEDOWN Parent's Guide for yourself.
With this two-book order you will also receive the SHAPEDOWN Introductory
Audiotape which provides an overview of the SHAPEDOWN Program and
offers guidelines for making constructive changes right away.
You can email us (shapedown@aol.com)
and give us your city, state, zip code and telephone area code and
we will provide you with a Referral to the nearest SHAPEDOWN Provider
in your area so you can join a local SHAPEDOWN Program delivered by
a licensed health professional trained to provide safe, effective
child and adolescent obesity care.
If you would
like to place an order for a SHAPEDOWN Workbook and/or its companion
SHAPEDOWN Parent Guide Click Here.
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