Preventing Childhood Obesity: an Early Start to Healthy Living from FutureLearn

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more The course is designed for the parents and carers of children, childhood educators and childcare workers, as well as anyone considering further study in the fields of child care or public health. You can use the hashtag #FLhealthystart to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

The complexities and implications of the global obesity epidemic facing children of the 21st century
The impact of nutrition, physical activity, screen time and sleep on childhood obesity
Factors influencing a child’s nutrition, physical activity, screen time and sleep (the ecological model)
Guidelines for understanding what healthy eating means for young children and how to put it into practice
Practical strategies for promoting healthy eating for children (making fruit and vegetables more attractive, modifying recipes and menus, reducing discretionary foods, and making meal times positive)
Physical activity milestones, challenges and guidelines for children under five years old
Strategies for promoting physical activity for children (creating active spaces and opportunities for physical activity in everyday and childcare settings)
The prevalence and complexities of screen time in the 21st century and its influence on young children
Guidelines for screen use for children under five years of age
Strategies for promoting healthy screen time for young children (creating a balance by reducing, maximising and replacing screen time)
The science behind sleep across the lifespan and how it is measured and regulated
Guidelines for sleep in young children
Practical strategies for optimising, prioritising and promoting sleep hygiene

Reviews summary

Childhood obesity prevention: practical strategies

According to students, this course is a highly recommended and practical guide for preventing childhood obesity, particularly beneficial for parents, caregivers, and early childhood educators. Learners praise its clear presentation of evidence-based content and actionable strategies for promoting healthy eating, physical activity, balanced screen time, and optimized sleep in young children. The comprehensive coverage, including the ecological model, provides a holistic understanding. While some experienced professionals found it a basic overview, the vast majority found the course informative and directly applicable, making it an excellent starting point for fostering healthy habits early on.

Serves as a strong introduction for new practitioners.

"A very solid foundation for understanding childhood obesity... For parents or those new to the field, it's excellent."

"As a public health student, I found this a great introductory course."

"It covers all the essential aspects and provides a holistic view. The focus on the ecological model was especially helpful."

"I consider it a good starting point for anyone concerned about childhood obesity."

Content is presented clearly and is easy to grasp.

"The content is evidence-based and presented clearly. Highly recommend for any parent or caregiver."

"Well-structured and easy to digest."

"The course is very well-paced and the information is presented in an accessible way."

"The instructors were clear, and the guidelines are easy to follow."

Offers highly actionable strategies for healthy living.

"As a new parent, I found the strategies for promoting healthy eating and physical activity so helpful."

"Absolutely brilliant! The practical strategies shared, especially for making meal times positive and reducing discretionary foods, are game-changers."

"I've learned so much about healthy habits for my toddlers. The strategies for reducing screen time without tantrums have been a lifesaver."

"Practical and insightful. The course provides actionable steps for promoting healthy living."

Some minor issues regarding content and platform noted.

"While the topic is important, I found the course content a bit repetitive in places."

"Some of the information felt outdated, especially regarding screen time guidelines, as technology changes so fast."

"My only minor critique is that some of the video quality was inconsistent."

"I felt the discussion forums were not very active."

May lack advanced scientific detail for specialists.

"Some parts felt a bit basic for someone with a public health background."

"I was hoping for more in-depth scientific explanations. It's definitely geared towards a general audience, which is fine, but as a nutritionist, I found some content a bit superficial."

"It's a decent awareness course, but don't expect deep dives."

"I didn't feel it added much beyond what I already knew from general reading."

Career center

Learners who complete Preventing Childhood Obesity: an Early Start to Healthy Living will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers: