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Healthy Lifestyles Programme | Te Tai Tokerau (Northland)
Public Service, Paediatrics, Dietitian
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Description
This FREE Programme provides information and support for children and their whānau to make long-term changes so children with an increased BMI can 'grow into their weight'. This service is for the whole whānau and focuses on the child. It requires all whānau members to commit to being good role models and provide encouragement and support to make small achievable steps and changes towards a healthier lifestyle. These changes are generally focused around food, activity and behaviour (such as sleep and screen time) and will involve a commitment from the whole whānau.
Staff
- Nurse specialist/coordinator
- Dietitian
- Health and wellness – Sport Northland Representative
- Paediatrician (Child-Tamariki doctor)
- Psychologist
Ages
Child / Tamariki, Youth / Rangatahi
How do I access this service?
Referral
Whānau can self-refer (see criteria below) or through your GP, public health nurse and other health providers.
Contact us
Referral Expectations
Available for free to young people aged 8 to 14 years with a BMI > 95th percentile for age. To check BMI, you can ask your GP practice or public health nurse to support you with this or calculate it using the Healthy weight BMI calculator | Ministry of Health NZ. The young person and their whānau must be motivated to make lifestyle changes.
If you choose to join this Programme, you will be involved in the following:
Initial Assessment
We start with an individual appointment with the paediatrician/nurse, the dietitian and the clinical psychologist (approximately half an hour with each). We will talk to you and your child, take measurements and do a general assessment.
We may also ask you to take your child for an early morning fasting (before you eat breakfast) blood test on another day.
Group Sessions
You will then join some children of a similar age and their families (generally 8-10 children and their families) for a series of eight weekly group education sessions to provide education and help you begin to make some changes. We make these sessions FUN and interesting!
We cover topics including goal setting, physical activity, food groups/good nutrition, the pressures of food, screen time, and barriers to achieving change.
It is essential that you attend all of these sessions (Monday afternoons, from 3.45pm-5pm).
Follow Up
After the group sessions, we will support your whānau to keep on track by staying in touch for a year to help you all reach your goals and maintain the changes made to support you to continue to make healthy changes.
For this Programme to work, your whānau must work together to make some changes. So please discuss as a whānau whether you would like to be part of this Programme and get back to us as soon as possible.
Hours
| Mon – Thu | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
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Public Holidays: Closed Northland Anniversary (27 Jan), Waitangi Day (6 Feb), Good Friday (18 Apr), Easter Sunday (20 Apr), Easter Monday (21 Apr), ANZAC Day (25 Apr), King's Birthday (2 Jun), Matariki (20 Jun), Labour Day (27 Oct).
Christmas: Open 23 Dec — 24 Dec. Closed 25 Dec — 29 Dec. Open 30 Dec — 31 Dec. Closed 1 Jan — 5 Jan. Open 6 Jan — 9 Jan. Closed 10 Jan.
Disability Assistance
Wheelchair access, Wheelchair accessible toilet, Mobility parking space, Support to make decisions, Assistance to move around, More space to move around
Website
Contact Details
Whangārei Hospital
Northland
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Phone
09 4304101 ext 8032
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Mobile
021 711 503
Email
Website
Louise Kini - clinical nurse specialist Paediatric Obesity
Hospital Road
Maunu
Whangārei
Northland 0110
Street Address
Hospital Road
Maunu
Whangārei
Northland 0110
Postal Address
Child Health Centre, Whangārei Hospital, Private Bag 9742, Whangārei 0140
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This page was last updated at 2:42PM on November 22, 2023. This information is reviewed and edited by Healthy Lifestyles Programme | Te Tai Tokerau (Northland).