Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Home-Based, Multidisciplinary, Family-Centered Pediatric Obesity...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Obesity Research
• Family-Centered Interventions
• Public Health

Background:

• Existing pediatric obesity interventions often lack whole-family and in-home components.
• Addressing childhood obesity requires comprehensive strategies engaging the entire family unit.
• Home-based, family-centered approaches are crucial for effective pediatric obesity management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the development, implementation, and evaluation of the ProxOb home-based, family-centered program.
• To assess the feasibility and early results of a multidisciplinary intervention for pediatric obesity.
• To present findings on the long-term impact of family involvement in childhood obesity treatment.

Main Methods:

• The ProxOb program involved a 6-month multidisciplinary, home-based intervention followed by an 18-month maintenance phase.
• Evaluations included psychosocial, clinical, and behavioral assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and post-maintenance.
• 130 families with a child diagnosed with obesity participated, with over 90% also having an overweight or obese parent.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in children's BMI z-scores was observed from baseline to the end of the 6-month intervention (T0=4.38, T1=4.06).
• Weight regain was noted at the 18-month maintenance phase (T2=4.29), indicating challenges in long-term weight management.
• Completion rates were higher in single-parent families (63.0%) compared to drop-outs (33.3%).

Conclusions:

• The ProxOb program demonstrates a feasible and replicable real-life approach to pediatric obesity.
• Home-based, family-centered interventions can effectively reduce childhood obesity markers.
• Sustained support and strategies are necessary to prevent weight regain in pediatric obesity interventions.