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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Effectiveness of a Hospital-Based Multidisciplinary Pediatric Weight Management Program: Two-Year Outcomes of PHIT
Sarah Hampl1,2, Cathleen Odar Stough3, Katrina Poppert Cordts3
11 Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital , Kansas City, MO.
Insights
This study found that a 24-week family-based behavioral weight management program helped children with obesity maintain their weight loss for two years. These positive results suggest sustainable outcomes for pediatric weight management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Behavioral Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Long-term weight loss sustainability is a significant challenge for children with obesity.
- Behavioral interventions are crucial for managing pediatric obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the 2-year anthropometric outcomes of a moderately intensive, group, behaviorally based weight management program for children with obesity.
- To assess the long-term sustainability of weight loss achieved through a family-based intervention.
Main Methods:
- A 24-week multicomponent intervention was delivered to 173 children (ages 8-18) with obesity and their caregivers.
- Participants attended monthly sessions for a total of 2 years.
- A multilevel model analyzed changes in Body Mass Index z-score (BMIz) for treatment completers.
Main Results:
- 72% of participants completed the 24-week intervention.
- Significant reductions in BMIz were observed from pre-treatment to 2-year follow-up (p < 0.001).
- Treatment effects were maintained, with no significant changes in BMIz between post-treatment and 24-month follow-up (p = 0.54).
Conclusions:
- Children maintained weight management gains from a 24-week family-based behavioral program at 2-year follow-up.
- The findings suggest that the achieved weight loss is sustainable.
- Further research is needed to explore the long-term health impacts of these sustained changes in children.
Objective:
For children with obesity, long-term sustainability of weight loss after treatment is difficult to achieve. This study examined 2-year anthropometric outcomes of a moderately intensive group behaviorally based weight management program.
Methods:
One hundred seventy-three children with obesity ages 8-18 years participated with their parent or adult caregiver in a 24-week multicomponent intervention, which was followed by monthly sessions for a total of 2 years. Children were considered treatment completers if they attended ≥50% of the 24 weekly sessions. A multilevel model (multiple assessment time points nested within participants) was used to test person-level change in BMI z-score (BMIz) for program completers between (1) pre- and post-treatment, (2) pretreatment and 24-month follow-up, (3) post-treatment and 12-month follow-up, and (4) post-treatment and 24-month follow-up.
Results:
One hundred twenty-four (72%) of the participants completed the 24-week intervention. Significant reductions in BMIz were observed over the course of treatment (β = -0.03; standard error [SE] = 0.004; t = -6.85; p < 0.001). Completers showed a significant reduction in BMIz between initiation of treatment and 2-year follow-up (n = 110 at 24 weeks; n = 38 at 24 months; β = -0.02; SE = 0.005; t = -4.12; p < 0.001). Children did not show any significant changes in BMIz between post-treatment and 24-month follow-up (β = -0.006; SE = 0.011; t = -0.61; p = 0.54), suggesting that treatment effects were maintained.
Conclusions:
Children maintained treatment gains achieved during a 24-week family-based behavioral weight management program at 2-year follow-up. Although these findings suggest that gains are sustainable, further research is needed to understand how these long-term changes impact child health.
