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Updated: May 8, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Family-based behavioural intervention program for obese children: an observational study of child and parent
Marie Teder1, Evalotte Mörelius, Maria Nordwall
1Division of Health, Activity and Care, Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden.
Insights
Family-based behavioral intervention programs improved children's physical activity, but eating habits remained challenging. Changes in reported habits did not correlate with weight reduction in this childhood obesity study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Obesity Research
- Behavioral Intervention Studies
- Lifestyle Medicine
Background:
- Family-based behavioral intervention programs (FBIPs) show promise for childhood obesity but lack identified mediating mechanisms.
- Understanding changes in children's lifestyle habits and report concordance is crucial for optimizing FBIPs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine changes in obese children's lifestyle habits during a 2-year FBIP.
- To assess the concordance between children's and parents' reports on lifestyle changes.
- To correlate lifestyle habit changes with changes in z-BMI post-intervention.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of 26 children (8.3-12.0 years) and parents in a 2-year FBIP.
- Measurement of weight and height from baseline to 12 months post-program.
- Separate reporting of eating habits and activity levels by children and parents, analyzed for concordance and association with z-BMI changes.
Main Results:
- Both children and parents reported increased physical activity post-intervention, with improved agreement between reports.
- Children reported improved eating habits, while parents noted improvement only in binge eating; concordance remained low.
- No significant association was found between reported lifestyle changes and changes in z-BMI.
Conclusions:
- Child and parent reports on physical activity converged and improved, unlike eating habits, in a 2-year FBIP.
- Changes in report concordance did not correlate with weight reduction.
- Further research on intervention processes and methods development is needed for childhood obesity FBIPs.
Background:
Family-based behavioural intervention programs (FBIPs) against childhood obesity have shown promising results, but the mediating mechanisms have not been identified. The aim of this study was to examine changes in obese childreńs lifestyle habits during a 2-year FBIP according to their own and parents' reports, the concordance between these reports and the correlations to change in post-intervention z-BMI.
Methods:
An observational study of 26 children (8.3-12.0 years) and their parents participating in a 2-year FBIP was performed. Weight and height were measured from baseline to 12 months after the end of the program. Eating habits and physical- and sedentary activity were reported separately by children and parents. Data were analysed with regard to concordance between parents' and children's reports and association between the lifestyle reports and change in z-BMI at the study endpoint using descriptive statistics and parametric and non-parametric tests.
Results:
According to both children's and parents' reports, the level of physical activity among the children had increased after the intervention as well as the agreement between the informants' reports. According to the children, eating habits had improved, while the parents' reports showed an improvement only with regard to binge eating. The concordance between children and parents regarding eating habits was slight to fair also after the intervention. No statistically significant associations between changes in lifestyle reports and changes in z-BMI were observed.
Conclusions:
Child and parent reports of physical activity were found to converge and display an improvement in a 2-year FBIP, while the reports on eating habits showed a more refractory pattern. Changes in concordance and agreement between children and parents reports did not correlate with weight reduction. Further methods development and studies of the processes during family-based interventions against childhood obesity are warranted.
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