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The relationship between parent and child self-reported adherence and weight loss
Brian H Wrotniak1, Leonard H Epstein, Rocco A Paluch
1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Farber Hall, Room G56, 3435 Main Street, Building 26, Buffalo, New York 14214-3000, USA.
Obesity Research
|June 25, 2005
Summary
Child and parent adherence to specific strategies in family-based weight control programs significantly predicts long-term weight reduction in youth and parents. Consistent engagement with behavioral interventions is key for successful weight management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Obesity Research
- Behavioral Science
- Family Health Interventions
Background:
- Family-based behavioral weight control programs are crucial for addressing childhood obesity.
- Adherence to treatment strategies is often a challenge, impacting long-term outcomes.
- Understanding specific adherence components that predict success is vital for program optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess how child and parent self-reported adherence to behavioral strategies influences changes in child and parent percentage overweight over two years.
- To identify specific adherence behaviors that predict weight reduction and maintenance in a family context.
Main Methods:
- The study included 110 families with children aged 8-12 years in the 85th BMI percentile, participating in randomized controlled weight control trials.
- Self-reported adherence to behavioral strategies was measured at 24 months.
- Hierarchical regression models were used to determine the predictive value of adherence on percentage overweight change, controlling for other factors.
Main Results:
- Child adherence to weighing and preplanning for high-fat food occasions, and parent adherence to praise and modeling healthy eating, predicted child percentage overweight change (p<0.001).
- Child adherence to food/calorie recording and parent modeling predicted parent percentage overweight change (p<0.001).
- Specific adherence behaviors incrementally predicted weight changes, explaining significant variance (24.8% for child, 14% for parent).
Conclusions:
- Child and parent adherence to distinct components of family-based behavioral weight control treatments are independent predictors of long-term changes in percentage overweight.
- Targeting and reinforcing specific adherence behaviors can enhance the effectiveness of pediatric weight management programs.