A two year family based behaviour treatment for obese children

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity has become a nutritional problem in China since the 1990s. Aims: A family based behavioural treatment was developed and tested, to see if its use was feasible in China and to evaluate its impact on obese schoolchildren. Methods: In a single school in Beijing, 33 obese children were randomly assigned to a treatment group and 35 to a control group. The treatment group participated in a family based behavioural treatment programme for two years. Height and weight were measured every six months for all participants. Blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured at baseline and after two years of programme implementation. Results: Body mass index (BMI, kg/m 2 ) was significantly reduced in the treatment group (from 26.6 (1.7) to 24.0 (0.9), 95% CI 2.06 to 3.18) but not in the control group (from 26.1 (1.5) to 26.0 (1.6)). Total cholesterol decreased 5.5% and triglycerides 9.7% in the treatment group. There was a significant correlation between change in BMI and change in triglycerides. There were no significant changes in plasma lipids in the controls. Blood pressure values also decreased significantly in the treatment, but not the control group. Conclusions: A family based behavioural intervention was feasible to use in treating obesity in schoolchildren in Beijing, China. After two years of implementation, it successfully decreased the degree of obesity, reduced levels of blood pressure, and decreased serum lipids in treatment; there were no significant changes among control children.

A Tailored Family-Based Obesity Intervention: A Randomized Trial

“…[4][5][6] However, virtually all interventions are only 6 to 12 months in duration, [4][5][6] with few exceptions. 7,8 Whether long-term changes to weight and the behavioral practices underpinning them are sustained has rarely been examined, 9,10 but this is important given that shorter studies report greater BMI differences than longer studies. 4 Typically, obesity interventions in children include treatment-seeking families or recruit via advertisement or referrals.…”

Physical activity as the main therapeutic tool for metabolic syndrome in childhood

“…In Table 1, using the above approach we reported 11 randomized controlled trials involving PA performed in obese children and adolescents. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] These randomized controlled trials involved a wide range of patients' sample size, and PA programs were different for intensity, duration, modality and setting. In general, these studies have found a positive effect of PA programs, particularly of a vigorous intensity, on blood pressure and lipid levels.…”

“…16 Scientific evidences collected in the last years in pediatric subjects, in opposition, support the existence of a strong relationship between PA and MS; [17][18][19][20][21] moreover, several intervention studies performed in obese children and adolescents showed the efficacy of PA programs on MS parameters. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] Therefore, there is an evident discrepancy between theory and practice regarding the role given to PA in MS treatment.…”

Five-year follow-up of a cognitive-behavioural lifestyle multidisciplinary programme for childhood obesity outpatient treatment

“…Nevertheless, some treatment programmes with large empirical basis have been reported, showing effective long-term results, mainly in children with supportive families (Epstein et al, 1990a, b (bis) ;Epstein, 1996;Braet and Van Winckel, 2000;Golan and Crow, 2004). Moreover, numerous clinic-based trials have indicated that potentially successful interventions for obese children should be multidimensional combining the following strategies: to adopt a health-centred rather than weight-centred lifestyle; to reduce energy intake while maintaining optimal nutrient intake; to increase physical activity and to reduce sedentariness; to actively involve parents in the changing process, mainly in younger children; to facilitate a supportive family environment; to achieve small and gradual changes, using methods and techniques of the cognitive-behavioural therapy (Epstein, 1996;Warschburger et al, 2001;Eliakim et al, 2002;de Mello et al, 2004;Reinehr et al, 2005;Sacher et al, 2005;Korsten-Reck et al, 2005;Nemet et al, 2005;Jiang et al, 2005).…”