The Cornwall Study Trying to Stop Children Becoming Obese

There is a digital game in the works where the only way to win is to help a character escape a city made entirely of junk food. It sounds like a bit of fun, but it sits inside a serious piece of Cornwall research aimed at one of the biggest health problems facing the next generation.

A mental health support team manager for the Trust has begun research trials that look at ways to tackle childhood obesity, which is on the rise.

Grace Cloke is a mental health support team manager for Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. For almost two years she has been studying for a doctorate, and her work focuses on childhood obesity. The study is called the ‘mind power and healthy lifestyle study’. It looks at a range of methods that can be put into practice to prevent obesity in children and young adults.

The numbers behind the work are stark. In the UK today, 36% of children are overweight. That figure is expected to rise to 41% by 2034.

Grace says:

“Over the past 30 years obesity has doubled in children. It has also quadrupled in adolescents.

“I want to find out how we can teach kids and teens new ways of thinking and learning. I hope it will help them make healthy choices and avoid problems with obesity.”

Five papers, one aim

Grace’s research is split across five papers. Each one includes early intervention methods to help children adopt healthier lifestyles, with the aim of preventing obesity in children and young adults.

Paper 1: Developing a new evaluation tool

The first paper develops and tests a new tool to assess the quality of health and wellbeing resources for children. The tool is designed to help researchers, schools and healthcare professionals identify what works, such as whether educational materials include evidence-based techniques to support healthy behaviour change.

Paper 2: Helping younger children build healthy habits

The next paper tests a storybook based on social learning theory. It is designed for children aged 4 to 6 years and their parents, and aims to encourage healthy eating and activity habits during early childhood. The paper examines whether families find the storybook engaging, practical and helpful in everyday life.

Paper 3: Supporting children and parents together

This paper looks at a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) workbook for children aged 10 to 12 years with overweight, alongside telephone support for parents. The research explores whether helping children build belief and healthy thinking patterns, while also helping parents change behaviour at home, can improve habits and wellbeing.

Paper 4: Combining learning with real life activities

The fourth paper is a family programme. It combines a CBT workbook with Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food cooking classes for parents, delivered by Healthy Cornwall alongside physical activity sessions for children. The aim is to find out if combining practical skills with psychological support helps families make and maintain healthier lifestyle choices.

Paper 5: A digital game for teenagers

The final paper develops and tests an interactive digital game for adolescents. Players help a character escape a fictional ‘junk food city’, and while doing so they learn about healthy eating, decision making and self-management skills. The study explores whether a game approach can increase engagement and support healthier lifestyle behaviours in young people.

What happens next

The early signs should arrive soon. Grace says:

“The first study is now live, and we should have the results back in the coming weeks.”

CornishStuff will be following Grace’s journey in the months ahead, and her quest to prevent childhood obesity.