Epidemiological data on childhood obesity has prompted a significant response from both governments and academics seeking to recommend solutions to the reported ‘crisis’. The ‘Kinder Overweight Active Living Action’ (KOALA) healthy lifestyle programme is a randomized obesity prevention and intervention study designed to provide an understanding of how school, family, and community can work in partnership to holistically address childhood obesity. Located within the KOALA project, this paper focuses on the children’s and parents’ experiences and perceptions of the KOALA intervention and its articulation with school health and physical education (HPE). Observations on the interactions that occur between home, school, and community as key sites of intervention in childhood obesity are also unpacked. The study employed a qualitative methodology to gauge perspectives regarding the multiple sites of obesity intervention. Perspectives of children, parents, and teachers regarding the KOALA experience would suggest that there is value in planning childhood obesity interventions that link families with community programs, such as scouts, girl guides, and club sport. While long-term outcomes are yet to be ascertained, KOALA has provided scope for new possibilities in holistic approaches to healthy body weight.
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