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Effect of a multidisciplinary treatment program on eating behavior in overweight and obese preschool children
Gianni Bocca1, Mirije W B Kuitert1, Pieter J J Sauer1
1Department of Pediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Insights
A multidisciplinary obesity intervention for preschool children did not significantly alter eating behavior compared to standard care. While restrained eating increased initially, this effect diminished over time, with no parent-child behavior associations found.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Obesity Research
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- The impact of multidisciplinary treatment on eating behaviors in overweight preschool children remains understudied.
- This study investigates a multidisciplinary intervention versus standard care for 3- to 5-year-old overweight children.
- Parental eating behaviors and their association with child behaviors were also examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a 16-week multidisciplinary intervention program on the eating behavior of overweight preschool-aged children.
- To compare the intervention's effects against a standard care program.
- To assess changes in parental eating behavior and explore correlations between parent and child eating patterns.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving 75 overweight preschool children (3-5 years old).
- Intervention group received dietary advice, physical activity, and psychological counseling (parents). Standard care involved pediatrician visits and healthy lifestyle information.
- Eating behavior assessed using the Dutch Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ-C) and DEBQ for parents at baseline, 16 weeks, and 12 months.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in eating behavior changes were observed between the multidisciplinary intervention and standard care groups over time.
- Both groups showed a transient increase in restrained eating behavior at 16 weeks, which was not sustained at 12 months.
- No significant associations were found between changes in eating behavior in children and their parents.
Conclusions:
- The multidisciplinary obesity intervention for preschool children did not demonstrate superior outcomes in altering eating behavior compared to standard care.
- A temporary increase in restrained eating behavior was noted post-intervention, but this effect was not lasting.
- The study found no evidence of a link between parental and child eating behavior changes within this intervention context.
Background:
The effects of multidisciplinary treatment programs on eating behavior in overweight preschool-aged children are largely unknown. We evaluated a multidisciplinary intervention program on eating behavior in 3- to 5-year-old overweight children, comparing them with children given standard treatment. We also assessed the parental eating behavior changes and investigated associations between parents and children.
Methods:
We randomized 75 children to a multidisciplinary intervention or to a standard care program. During a 16-week period, children and parents in the multidisciplinary group were given dietary advice, physical activity sessions and, for parents only, psychological counseling. Children and parents in the standard group visited a pediatrician 3 times and were given information on a healthy lifestyle. At baseline, after 16 weeks, and after 12 months, children were measured and parents completed the Dutch Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ-C) for their children and the DEBQ for themselves.
Results:
At the three time points, 70 (93.3%), 57 (91.9%), and 42 (73.7%) DEBQ-Cs were analyzed. We found no differences in the changes in eating behavior between the two groups over time. In both groups, there was a significant increase in restrained eating behavior present at 16 weeks, however, this was no longer present at 12 months. We found no associations between changes in eating behavior between the children and their parents.
Conclusions:
A multidisciplinary obesity intervention program in preschool-aged children induced more restrained eating behavior between baseline and 16 weeks. However, there was no difference with the children in the standard care group.
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