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Updated: Mar 15, 2026

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Family-centered brief intervention for reducing obesity and cardiovascular disease risk: A randomized controlled
Scott Duncan1, Felicity Goodyear-Smith2, Julia McPhee3
1Human Potential Centre, School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. scott.duncan@aut.ac.nz.
Insights
A brief family-centered intervention improved body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in primary care patients. This approach showed modest but significant health benefits compared to usual care.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Cardiovascular Health
- Obesity Management
Background:
- Elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is a significant concern in primary healthcare.
- Lifestyle interventions focusing on physical activity and nutrition are crucial for managing obesity and CVD risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a family-centered, brief intervention on body weight and related health outcomes.
- To assess the effectiveness of a time-limited intervention in primary care patients with elevated 5-year CVD risk.
Main Methods:
- A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with 320 patients aged 35-65.
- Intervention group received usual care plus up to five home sessions promoting physical activity and healthy eating.
- Outcomes included BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, CVD risk, and dietary patterns.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed a modest but significant decrease in BMI (-0.633 kg/m²) at 12 months compared to the control group.
- Significant reductions were observed in total cholesterol, total cholesterol to HDL ratio, and 5-year CVD risk.
- Fast food consumption also decreased significantly in the intervention group at 12 months.
Conclusions:
- A family-centered brief intervention can yield modest improvements in obesity-related health outcomes.
- This intervention offers a viable strategy to enhance cardiovascular health in primary care settings.
- The findings support integrating lifestyle interventions into routine primary care for at-risk patients.
Objective:
To assess the effects of a family-centered, physical activity and nutrition "brief" intervention (time-limited contact) on body weight and related health outcomes in primary health care patients with an elevated 5-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
Methods:
This study implemented a cluster randomized controlled trial design with two treatment conditions: a CVD risk assessment and one-time consultation ("usual care" control) and a CVD risk assessment and up to five home sessions that aimed to reduce obesity by encouraging physical activity and healthy eating (intervention). Three hundred and twenty patients aged 35 to 65 years from 16 primary health care clinics in Auckland, New Zealand, participated in the study. Intervention effects on BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, triglycerides, 5-year CVD risk, physical activity, and dietary patterns were assessed using generalized linear mixed models.
Results:
When compared with the control group, the intervention resulted in a significant but relatively modest decrease in BMI between baseline and the 12-month follow-up (-0.633 kg m-2 , Padj = 0.048). Significant decreases were also observed for total cholesterol at 4 and 12 months, the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio at 4 months, 5-year CVD risk at 4 months, and fast food consumption at 12 months.
Conclusions:
Our findings show that a family-centered brief intervention targeting physical activity and nutrition can generate slightly better obesity-related health outcomes than usual care alone.
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