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Updated: Apr 29, 2026
Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
A multidisciplinary intervention programme has positive effects on quality of life in overweight and obese preschool
G Bocca1, M W B Kuitert, P J J Sauer
1Department of Paediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Insights
A multidisciplinary program improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in overweight and obese young children. After 12 months, physical HRQoL significantly increased, with obesity reduction correlating to better health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Public Health Nutrition
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Overweight and obesity affect a significant percentage of young children (3-5 years) in the Netherlands, with higher prevalence in girls.
- Early childhood obesity poses risks to long-term health and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary intervention on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in overweight and obese children aged 3-5 years.
- To compare the intervention's effects against standard care.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 75 children.
- Intervention group received dietary advice, exercise, and psychological support for parents.
- Standard care group received healthy lifestyle advice.
- Quality of life and health questionnaires were administered at baseline, 16 weeks, and 12 months.
Main Results:
- At 16 weeks, the intervention group reported more bodily pain and lower mental health scores.
- By 12 months, these differences normalized, and the intervention group showed improved HRQoL, particularly in the physical domain.
- A decrease in BMIz-score and visceral fat over 12 months correlated with improvements in global and general health, respectively.
Conclusions:
- A 12-month multidisciplinary intervention program demonstrated positive effects on HRQoL in overweight and obese children aged 3-5 years, especially in the physical domain.
- Improvements in obesity parameters were associated with enhanced HRQoL outcomes.
Aim:
Up to 18.1% of Dutch children aged 3-5 are overweight and up to 3.3% are obese, with higher levels in girls. This study assessed the effect of a multidisciplinary intervention programme on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in this patient group.
Methods:
We randomised 75 children to a multidisciplinary intervention, comprising dietary advice, exercise sessions and psychological counselling for parents or the standard care programme, providing healthy lifestyle advice. The parents completed quality of life and child health questionnaires at baseline and after 16 weeks and 12 months.
Results:
At 16 weeks, children in the intervention group experienced more bodily pain and less mental health than the standard care group, but at 12 months, this difference disappeared and they showed a more positive change in HRQoL than the standard care group, especially for the physical domain. When we combined both groups, a decreased BMIz-score over 12 months was associated with increased global health and reduced visceral fat correlated with increased general health.
Conclusion:
At 12 months, a multidisciplinary intervention programme for overweight and obese children aged 3-5 years had beneficial effects on HRQoL, especially for the physical domain. Reduced obesity parameters correlated with several increased HRQoL parameters.
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