This program was for children who were 6 to 11 years old and were overweight or obese and their parents.

Mind, Exercise, Nutrition... Do It! (MEND) 6-11, a family and community-based multi-component behavioral modification program, was designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity patterns for participants.

No peer-reviewed publications evaluating the effectiveness of this program were located.

The MEND 6-11 program intended to support and assist youth and their families as families learned to control their child's weight and enhance their general well-being.  This program included activities for parents and children to do together and separately.  This program was implemented through meetings that included the following:

• Parent-focused session - provided information for parents on support strategies.

• Children-focused session - encouraged children to participate in games-based exercise sessions while parents attended the strategy-based portion of the meeting.

• Family focused session - offered nutrition education classes for both children and parents.

MEND 6-11 is adapted from the MEND 7-13* program.

* A separate Fact Sheet is available for this program.

MEND was developed in 2000 in the United Kingdom and programs have been adapted for use and evaluated in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United States. The extent to which MEND 6-11 was implemented was not located.

Training from the MEND foundation was required to implement this program.

Although this program is no longer available, considerations for implementing a similar program might include obtaining facilitators and ensuring they receive training; finding a suitable location at a gym, health club, or other space with exercise facilities to hold the classes; and acquiring youth and family buy-in.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing a program similar to MEND 6-11, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Classes were held twice a week for 8 weeks.  Exercise sessions for children were 1 hour.  Information on the length of parent sessions was not located.

Information on program implementation costs was not located.  

To move the MEND 6-11 program to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least six months from program completion

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

This program is no longer availbale. However, You may also contact Healthy Weight Partnership, Inc. by mail 5158 Clareton Dr., Unit 2608, Agoura Hills, CA 91376, phone 1-818-879-0493 or visit https://healthyweightpartnership.org/contact-us/

http://us.mendcentral.org/whatweoffer/mend6-11 (This website no longer contains program information) and http://healthyweightpartnership.org/