A behavioral approach to increasing calorie consumption in children with cystic fibrosis

To increase calorie consumption of 5 mildly malnourished children with cystic fibrosis (CF), intervention was implemented in multiple baseline fashion across snack and three meals. Intervention involved nutritional education establishing gradually increasing calories goals, teaching parents contingency management strategies, and a reward system for achieving calorie goals. Following 6 treatment sessions, the children's calorie intake increased across meals and total calorie intake was 25 to 43% above baseline. The calorie increase was maintained at 9-month follow-up. Significant changes in weight and height were made during treatment and the year following intervention. The results suggest that the long-term oral intake of children with CF can be modified by a short-term behavioral intervention.