A Multidisciplinary Approach to Pediatric Obesity Shows Improvement Postintervention

Outpatient management of pediatric obesity can be difficult, requiring a significant time commitment from both provider and patient. Multidisciplinary clinic-based programs have shown promising effects in reducing BMI during intervention, but whether these changes are sustained over time is not well studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the post-treatment outcomes of children seen in a multidisciplinary pediatric obesity clinic (MPOC).

A retrospective chart review was performed using the MPOC database, which included all clinic patients from January 2008 to August 2016 who attended a minimum of 2 visits (n = 472). The primary outcome was the absolute change in BMI Z-score (BMIZ) from the final intervention visit compared to 1- and 2-years post-intervention. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to characterize predictors of change in BMIZ.

MPOC patients ranged in age from 3 to 18 years. Mean BMIZ decreased significantly during intervention (-0.13 ± 1.47, P < .001) and was maintained at 1- and 2-years post-intervention. In participants ages 3 to 5, BMIZ further decreased at 1 year post intervention (-0.27 ± 0.26, P < .001). Age at time of referral was the only significant predictor of change in BMIZ.

Outpatient, multidisciplinary intervention for pediatric obesity was effective in reducing or stabilizing BMIZ during and beyond the intervention, particularly when patients were referred at an early age. Although primary prevention is the ideal management, multidisciplinary clinic intervention can be effective in the sustained treatment of pediatric obesity.