This document outlines a project to research childhood obesity. The project will identify family-based interventions to prevent inappropriate weight gain in children aged 0-6. A management team will compile existing research, conduct new local research, develop prevention strategies, and organize focus groups to test the strategies. Focus group leaders will oversee groups using different interventions and report results to the project manager. Risks like obtaining objective data and engaging participants fully are addressed. The project timeline is 12 months and communication plans ensure information sharing. Evaluation criteria include effective communication, meeting timelines, and comparing focus group results.

1. Managing Childhood
Obesity

2. Project Charter
• Emphasis on the role of the home environment and influence of
family members in the environment on managing overweight
concerns in children birth to age 6, focusing on physical activity, good
nutrition choices, and support systems.
• Goal is to identify interventions that will influence parent and child
behaviors to contribute to inappropriate weight gain.
• Outcome expected is to improve health status of children and
subsequently adolescents, and adults for which obesity is a known
risk factor

3. Objectives
• Compile already conducted research on affects of childhood obesity
• Conduct additional research locally utilizing participants from high
risk group identified.
• Develop intervention strategies for prevention.
• Organize Focus Groups to test intervention methods.
• Do an analysis of results comparing results of different Focus Groups
that used different strategies and those who did nothing
• Compile results and report

4. Management Team
Project
Manager
Research
Staff
Focus Group
Leader
Focus Group
Leader
Focus Group
Leader

5. Work Breakdown Structure
Organization/Oversight of
Project/Lead
Communicator/Provide Final
Report on Results
Compile Documented
Research/Conduct new
Research locally/ provide
analysis
Organize and Oversee Focus
Group using selected
intervention strategies/provide
results to Project Manager
Organize and Oversee Focus
Group using selected
intervention strategies/Provide
results to Project Manager
Organize and Oversee Focus
Group using selected
intervention strategies/Provide
results to Project Manager

6. Communication Plan
Project Timeline is 12 months
• Planning Meeting will set foundation for all objectives and selected
Team Members will work together to develop timelines, make
assignments, and provide all other guidance needed for successful
project.
• Team will meet bi monthly to discuss progress
• Email and Conference Calls are to be utilized as needed to ensure
communication is shared amongst each Team Member
• Focus Group Leaders are Responsible for developing a communication
plan within their focus groups.

7. Risk Register Objectives
• Obtaining objective and useful information for the research from
home and family based interventions
In order to obtain results that are accurate, it is of upmost importance
to explain the importance of the research to the test subjects,
encouraging them to be fully engaged and provide honest and
objective information.
• Locating willing research subjects that will participate fully including
all individuals who play a role in the studied child’s life.
It is of extreme importance to obtain complete buy in of all parties
involved to achieve usable research.

8. Risk Register Objectives
• Communication between researcher and participants as well as those
others involved, especially the child’s medical provider.
Research should probably be conducted in a larger geographical area to
capture a wide variety of both participants and medical providers.
• According to most recent statistics, racial and ethnic disparities have
been reported as being a contributing factor in childhood obesity.
Research would need to include participants from enough of the
major races and ethnicities to make it valid.
Using a variety of research methods to capture needed subjects is of
utmost importance to obtaining valid research results.

9. Risk Register Objectives
• Successful intervention into the lives of the research subjects and
their families to change the course of unhealthy habits will be a
challenge.
The use of a manageable, but large enough pool of participants is
important.
• Inadequate training provided to parents/caregivers on the role they
play in their child’s healthy lifestyles.
A large focus needs to be placed on front end of this research project to
lay a good foundation for future results.

10. Risk Register Objectives
• Project calls for a multi disciplinary team with appropriate knowledge
and experience to complete research.
Partnering with local agencies who have these same team members
would be beneficial and costs could be shared.

11. Evaluation Criteria
• Communication is flowing back and forth between Team Members
and Between Focus Group Members
• Scheduled Meetings are taking place and timelines are being met
successfully
• Comparative Analysis of Focus Group Results from Intervention
Strategies