• University of Wollongong

Preventing Childhood Obesity: an Early Start to Healthy Living

Prevent childhood obesity by learning about healthy eating, physical activity, screen time and sleep for children under five.

10,894 enrolled on this course

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  • Duration

    4 weeks

  • Weekly study

    2 hours
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Childhood obesity is one of the biggest health challenges of the 21st century and affects over 41 million children under the age of five. If not prevented at an early age it can become a lifelong condition and lead to very serious diseases and disorders.

This free online course follows the latest innovative research in childhood development to reveal what is contributing to these shocking figures and what can be done to prevent childhood obesity.

Join us over four unique and engaging weeks as we learn from well-respected and published professionals about obesity prevention in children under five, and gain lifestyle strategies to provide children with an early start to healthy living and pathways to healthy futures.

Discover lifestyle strategies for preventing childhood obesity

This course is designed to help parents and those who work with children. It will describe the main behaviours that contribute to childhood obesity – from birth to the age of five – and provide evidence-based advice on promoting and maintaining healthy levels of these behaviours.

Each week of the course will look at a different area and will address some of the following topics:

  • Making fruit and vegetables attractive
  • Offering healthy snacks and drinks
  • Promoting active play
  • Reducing screen time and sedentary behaviour
  • Creating healthy sleep patterns.

By the end of the course, you will be able to set goals to promote healthy behaviours in the children you care for and monitor their progress over time.

Learn with childhood obesity specialists at the Early Start Research Institute

The course has been developed by childhood obesity specialists at the Early Start Research Institute (ESRI) at the University of Wollongong Australia, which conducts research to inform professional practice, influence policy development, and enhance the lives of children, youth and families. Boasting world-class facilities and researchers, ESRI will share expertise throughout this course that will take you to the forefront of the latest innovative research in childhood development.

Join us on a mission over four life-changing weeks to prevent childhood obesity and provide all children with the best early start to a healthy life.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 7 seconds Childhood obesity is one of the biggest health challenges of the 21st century. Globally, it is estimated that over 41 million children under the age of five are overweight or obese. Why? What is contributing to these shocking figures, and what can we do about it? If not prevented or treated at an early age, obesity has the potential to be a lifelong condition, increasing the risk of developing interrelated non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke, musculoskeletal disorders, and some types of cancer. The good news is that childhood obesity and its associated diseases are mostly preventable.

Skip to 0 minutes and 54 seconds The University of Wollongong and the Early Start Research Institute has developed a free online course focused on ages zero to five that will give you lifestyle strategies to prevent childhood obesity and forge a pathway to a healthy future. Learn the latest innovative research in childhood development from respected and published professionals. Over four unique and engaging weeks, you will learn about nutrition, physical activity, screen time and sleep, and how the delicate balance of these four elements is crucial in establishing healthy patterns in children’s lives. Join us on four life-changing weeks, preventing obesity, and giving children an early start to healthy living, because every child deserves the best possible start to life.

What topics will you cover?

  • The complexities and implications of the global obesity epidemic facing children of the 21st century
  • The impact of nutrition, physical activity, screen time and sleep on childhood obesity
  • Factors influencing a child’s nutrition, physical activity, screen time and sleep (the ecological model)
  • Guidelines for understanding what healthy eating means for young children and how to put it into practice
  • Practical strategies for promoting healthy eating for children (making fruit and vegetables more attractive, modifying recipes and menus, reducing discretionary foods, and making meal times positive)
  • Physical activity milestones, challenges and guidelines for children under five years old
  • Strategies for promoting physical activity for children (creating active spaces and opportunities for physical activity in everyday and childcare settings)
  • The prevalence and complexities of screen time in the 21st century and its influence on young children
  • Guidelines for screen use for children under five years of age
  • Strategies for promoting healthy screen time for young children (creating a balance by reducing, maximising and replacing screen time)
  • The science behind sleep across the lifespan and how it is measured and regulated
  • Guidelines for sleep in young children
  • Practical strategies for optimising, prioritising and promoting sleep hygiene

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explain the benefits of a healthy lifestyle for infants and young children
  • Debate the issues that childhood obesity may pose for our population in future years
  • Compare and evaluate the practical approaches of putting lifestyle changes into practice in the home and early childhood education setting
  • Identify, describe and compare the guidelines for healthy eating, physical activity, screen time and sleep from different countries
  • Discuss the influence of parents and educators in establishing positive lifestyle behaviours
  • Report on the importance of setting goals to initiate and maintain behaviour change
  • Reflect on the need for optimising early lifestyle practices for future health

Who is the course for?

The course is designed for the parents and carers of children, childhood educators and childcare workers, as well as anyone considering further study in the fields of child care or public health.

Who will you learn with?

Tony Okely

Tony is Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences & Director of the Early Start Research Institute. His research interests are motor development, physical activity and obesity prevention in children

Rute Santos

I am a research fellow (University of Wollongong Australia). I have a PhD in Physical Activity and Health and my research interests cover the health-related benefits of physical activity in children

Megan Hammersley

Megan is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and PhD candidate at the University of Wollongong. She has an interest in the use of technology in childhood obesity prevention and treatment.

Rebecca Stanley

I am an Associate Research Fellow at the Early Start Research Institute, University of Wollongong. My research interest is in children's health behaviours and culturally appropriate interventions.

Sarah Loughran

Sarah is a research fellow and head of the sleep research laboratory at the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute. Her research interests include sleep, development, and bioelectromagnetics

Dylan Cliff

A senior research fellow (Early Start Research Institute, University of Wollongong) interested in improving children's health & development through healthy levels of physical activity & screen time.

Rachel Jones

Hi I am Rachel Jones. I work at the Early Start Research Institute at the University of Wollongong. I am interested in the promotion of healthy lifestyles for young children.

Who developed the course?

University of Wollongong

The University of Wollongong is among the world’s top 20 modern universities. It routinely rates among the top Australian universities for graduate satisfaction and starting salaries.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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You can use the hashtag #FLhealthystart to talk about this course on social media.