A little over a decade ago, we launched the Family Reset Program — a program fully funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and free to parents designed to support parents of children aged 5-12 whose weights are of concern. Some parents came to us worried about their child’s future health. Others were grappling with their children being bullied and consequent self-esteem issues linked to weight and weren’t sure how to help.
Our goal was to create a program that went beyond weight. We wanted to address health, body image, fitness, and the impact of weight bias — all the while providing families with access to a team of health professionals who could offer practical, compassionate guidance.
Over the past decade, we’ve seen families take meaningful steps toward better health and well-being. Here’s a look at what our program currently provides, and what we’ve seen so far.
What Makes the Family Reset Program Different?
The Family Reset Program is built around the idea that improving health isn’t about quick fixes or rigid rules. It’s about creating a supportive environment where families can learn, grow, and make sustainable changes together.
Here’s what the program offers:
1. Support from a Full Team of Health Experts
Parents and other involved adult caregivers receive guidance from physicians, registered dietitians, behavioral specialists, and exercise specialists. This team approach means families get support on everything from family health and parenting to nutrition, physical activity, and cultivating positive attitudes about body image.
2. A full year of One-on-One Support for Parents
For twelve months, caregivers have unlimited access to one-on-one support from our team of experts. After this period, follow-ups continue at regular intervals or as needed.
3. Support for Parents with Overweight or Obesity
For adults who have their own weight concerns, the program includes BMI's established 6-month behavioral weight management program. This includes unlimited access to team members and on-site group fitness classes three times a week.
4. Group Classes for Kids
Kids take part in five group sessions led by a clinical social worker whose career has been spent working with children and their families. These classes address topics like self-esteem, bullying, body image, and emotional resilience and regulation (including anxiety, anger, and sadness). Weight is not a focus of these classes—instead, we help kids explore how they feel and how to cope with those feelings.
5. Mental Health Support for Parents
Caregivers dealing with anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges can access up to 10 hours of one-on-one therapy with a clinical psychologist. We know that parents’ well-being plays a large role in the emotional environment of the family, and improving parental mental health can strengthen parent-child relationships.
What Are our Outcomes Over the Last Decade?
Many children have lost weight, slowed their weight gain, or stabilized their growth curves.
- 81% of children who completed program improved their overall Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores with an average total improvement of 11.45 or almost 20% from their baseline scores
- Breaking the Pediatric quality of life scores down further into its physical and social components, since Family Reset’s inception, children’s physical quality of life scores improved by an average of nearly 30% over the program’s course. This improvement indicates that children post-program are finding it easier to carry out physical tasks, such as walking, exercising, and carrying out daily activities. Meanwhile children’s psychosocial quality of life scores improved by an average of nearly 20% over the course of the program indicating how well the children get along with others, how they’re functioning in school, and their general mood.
- Adults have made meaningful lifestyle changes, with some achieving significant weight loss—like one couple who lost a combined 191 lbs.
- Beyond weight, all participants gained something even more valuable: an evidence-based approach to health, free from weight bias, promoting positive self-esteem and sustainable family wellness.
This range of outcomes isn’t surprising. As every parent knows, we can guide, support, love, and encourage our kids, but there’s no magic switch that guarantees change. What matters most is that families are building healthier habits together.
But beyond numbers, what we’re most proud of is that every family in the Family Reset Program has left with a stronger understanding of health and well-being. They’ve learned how to think about weight and health without bias, how to support positive body image, and how to build a lifestyle that’s good for the whole family — no matter what the scale says.
Interested in the Family Reset Program?
If you’re a parent with a child aged 5-12 whose weight falls in the 85th percentile or higher (you can check with our percentile calculator linked below), you may be eligible for the Family Reset Program.
The program is fully funded (there’s no cost to families) and designed to support both parents and children on the journey to better health.
We know every family’s journey is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. But with the right tools, the right support, and a little patience, positive change is possible.
