Evaluating 12 Years of Implementing a Multidisciplinary Specialist Child and Adolescent Obesity Treatment Service: Patient-Level Outcomes
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Updated: Sep 7, 2025
Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Cathy Wyse1, Lucinda Case2, Órla Walsh3,4
1Obesity Research and Care Group, School of Physiotherapy, Division of Population Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.
Insights
Specialist pediatric obesity services effectively reduce standardized body mass index (BMI-SDS) in children and adolescents. Younger age and longer treatment duration correlated with greater BMI-SDS reduction, highlighting the importance of early intervention and sustained care for childhood obesity management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a complex chronic disease requiring specialized, multidisciplinary care, yet global access to effective treatment remains limited.
- Evidence-based interventions in real-world settings are crucial for translating research into improved child health outcomes.
- Ireland's National Model of Care for Obesity emphasizes the need for enhanced healthcare services for pediatric populations affected by obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a family-based, Tier 3 multidisciplinary pediatric obesity outpatient service on standardized body mass index (BMI-SDS).
Main Methods:
- Patients referred by pediatricians underwent assessment by a multidisciplinary team (physiotherapist, dietitian, psychologist).
- Personalized obesity treatment plans were developed, with anthropometric and demographic data collected at baseline and final visits.
- Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests for BMI-SDS change over time, and multiple linear regression to identify associated demographic factors.
Main Results:
- The study cohort (n=692) showed an overall mean reduction in BMI-SDS of -0.17 (P < 0.001).
- Younger age at admission and longer treatment duration were significantly associated with greater BMI-SDS reduction.
- No significant association was found between BMI-SDS change and deprivation score, treatment type, sex, obesity category, or comorbid conditions.
Conclusions:
- Participation in a specialist Tier 3 pediatric obesity service is linked to significant reductions in BMI-SDS for children and adolescents.
- These findings underscore the effectiveness of specialized multidisciplinary interventions in managing pediatric obesity.
- Early intervention and sustained treatment duration appear key to maximizing positive outcomes in pediatric obesity management.
Introduction:
Childhood obesity is a chronic disease that requires multidisciplinary and specialist intervention to address its complex pathophysiology, though access to treatment is limited globally. Evaluating the impact of evidence-based interventions implemented in real-world clinical settings is essential, in order to increase the translation of research into practice and enhance child health outcomes. In Ireland, the National Model of Care for Obesity highlighted the need to develop and improve healthcare services for children and adolescents with obesity.
Aims:
This study aims to evaluate the impact of a family-based, Tier 3 multi-disciplinary child and adolescent obesity outpatient service (www.w82go.ie) on standardized body mass index (BMI-SDS).
Methods:
Following referral by pediatricians, patients were assessed by a pediatric multidisciplinary team (physiotherapist, dietician, and psychologist) and personalized obesity treatment plans were developed. Anthropometric and demographic information were recorded at baseline and final visit. Descriptive statistics were used to explore distribution, central tendency and variation in the demographic data, change in BMI-SDS over time was assessed using a t-test, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate the association of demographic factors on the change in BMI-SDS.
Results:
The overall mean BMI-SDS reduction across the whole cohort (n = 692) was -0.17 (95% CI = -0.20, -0.13; P < 0.001). Younger age at admission and longer duration of treatment were associated with greater BMI-SDS reduction but there was no significant association between change in BMI-SDS and any of the other parameters (deprivation score, treatment type, sex, obesity category at admission or presence of comorbid condition).
Conclusion:
Engagement in a specialist Tier 3 pediatric obesity service was associated with reductions in BMI-SDS in children and adolescents with obesity.
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