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Weight Change for Pediatric Completers in a National Weight Loss Program
Rochelle Cason-Wilkerson1, Darcy Thompson1, Nia Mitchell2
1University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
Global Pediatric Health
|December 6, 2021
Summary
Low-cost weight loss programs like Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) can help overweight children. Participants showed significant weight z-score reduction in the first year of the program.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Public Health Nutrition
- Behavioral Health
Background:
- Overweight and obese children in low-income households face barriers to accessing effective weight management interventions.
- There is a need to evaluate the efficacy of low-cost, accessible weight loss programs for pediatric populations.
- Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) is a national, affordable program that may serve this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of the Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) program on weight change in overweight and obese children and adolescents.
- To determine the cumulative change in weight z-score among participants aged 7 to 17 years.
- To evaluate program effectiveness over multiple years of membership renewal.
Main Methods:
- A nonconcurrent prospective study design was employed.
- Data were analyzed for 586 overweight and obese children and adolescents who joined TOPS between 2008 and 2011 and renewed their membership.
- Weight z-scores were tracked to calculate cumulative changes over time.
Main Results:
- Participants experienced a significant mean decrease in weight z-score of -0.13 (SD 31) within the first year of program participation.
- Weight z-score changes remained relatively consistent in subsequent years of membership.
- The study indicates a positive initial impact of TOPS on weight management for pediatric participants.
Conclusions:
- The TOPS program demonstrates potential as a low-cost intervention for pediatric weight management in underserved populations.
- Further investigation through prospective randomized controlled trials is recommended to validate these findings.
- Accessible, community-based programs like TOPS warrant consideration for public health strategies targeting childhood obesity.
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