A Parent Treatment Program for Preschoolers With Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Public Health Nutrition
• Behavioral Pediatrics

Background:

• Early intervention is key for effective obesity treatment in children.
• Limited effective treatment options exist for early childhood obesity.
• Parenting practices significantly influence a child's weight status.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a parent-only obesity treatment program.
• To compare a parent-only program with and without booster sessions against standard treatment.
• To assess the impact on children's BMI z-score and waist circumference.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial involving 174 children aged 4-6 years with obesity.
• Three groups: parent-only with boosters, parent-only without boosters, and standard treatment.
• 12-month follow-up analyzing BMI z-score, BMI, and waist circumference using linear mixed models.

Main Results:

• Parent-only treatment led to greater BMI z-score reduction compared to standard treatment.
• The parent-only group with booster sessions showed significant improvements in weight status.
• Children in the booster group were 4.8 times more likely to achieve a clinically significant BMI z-score reduction.

Conclusions:

• A parent-only treatment program incorporating booster sessions is highly effective for preschooler obesity.
• Booster sessions enhance the long-term benefits of parent-focused obesity interventions.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for early childhood obesity management.