The PEACH ^TM (Parenting Eating and Activity for Child Health) program is a family-based program that provides parents of primary-school aged children with the skills to improve their children’s eating and physical activity. PEACH^TM has a long history, starting in 2004 as a randomised control trial (RCT) with 169 families of moderately obese 5-9 year olds in Adelaide and Sydney.

This RCT showed significant improvements in children’s dietary and activity behaviours and in their degree of overweight. In 2008 it was then trialled in the ‘real life’ practice setting in South Australia as PEACH^TM in the Community, before being run state-wide in QLD from 2013 – 2016 (i.e. PEACH^TM QLD).

In 2016 PEACH^TM Lifestyle began – a FREE online version of PEACH^TM program, using materials developed from the PEACH^TM QLD. This version involves 10 x online tutorials, discussion forums and 6 x live chat group discussion sessions over approximately 6 months. Children do not need to be overweight to join in: the program aims to prevent these problems from occurring whilst also giving parents the skills to manage these problems as a family if they already exist. PEACH^TM lifestyle is provided solely online, to overcome the challenges families face due to the busy lives that they lead.

Providing support online is successful because of the greater flexibility, ability to learn at your own pace and increased interaction with the material provided.

Since September 2016 we have had interest in PEACH^TM Lifestyle from over 150 families. Two groups have completed the entire program and there are another two groups currently running over Terms 2 and 3. There are a further two groups planned to start in July and August – to be run over Terms 3 and 4. To find out more, you can email us at peach.lifestyle@flinders.edu.au or call Dr Lucinda Bell on 08 8204 5957. Please also like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to help spread the word about this fantastic program! Registrations can be made online at http://peachlifestyle.com.au/.