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Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Testing a family system-based intervention (ENTREN-F Programme) for a paediatric obesity sample by a randomized
Ana Rosa Sepúlveda1, Marta Rojo1, Tatiana Lacruz1
1Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, Campus of Cantoblanco, 28049, Spain.
Insights
The ENTREN-F family system intervention showed higher attendance and effectiveness in managing childhood obesity compared to other groups. Long-term results indicate sustained positive weight trajectories for both ENTREN-F and ENTREN programs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Behavioral Science
- Family Systems Therapy
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern requiring effective management strategies.
- Family-centered interventions are crucial for addressing the complex factors contributing to pediatric obesity.
- Existing interventions vary in their approach to family dynamics and lifestyle modifications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of ENTREN-F, a multi-component, family system-based intervention, for pediatric obesity management.
- To compare ENTREN-F with a standard cognitive-behavioural intervention (ENTREN) and a control group.
- To assess the long-term maintenance of treatment effects for up to two years.
Main Methods:
- A 3-arm, parallel-design, single-blinded randomized controlled trial involving 165 families.
- Interventions included: ENTREN-F (family system-based CBT), ENTREN (CBT without family system focus), and a control group (behavioral monitoring).
- Outcomes measured included BMI z-score, psychological well-being, maternal emotion, depression, feeding practices, physical activity, and sedentary behavior.
Main Results:
- ENTREN-F demonstrated higher attendance rates (72.6%) compared to ENTREN (66%) and the control group (33%).
- Post-intervention, ENTREN-F showed a greater reduction in BMI z-score in nearly 50% of participants compared to other groups.
- No significant differences were found between arms for anthropometric, psychological, or family measures immediately post-intervention; however, both ENTREN-F and ENTREN showed similar favorable long-term weight trajectories at two-year follow-up.
Conclusions:
- ENTREN-F appears effective for childhood obesity management, with high acceptance and sustained positive weight trajectories.
- The study highlights the importance of psychological and family-related factors in the etiology and maintenance of pediatric obesity.
- Further research is needed to statistically confirm differences in child and family outcomes, despite limitations like sample size reduction due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract:
This study evaluated the effectiveness of 'ENTREN-F' -a multi-component, family system-based intervention-for managing paediatric obesity at National Health Primary Care. A 3-arm, parallel-design, single-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT), 165 families were randomized: Arm 1) ENTREN-F(n = 62) is a 12-week cognitive-behavioural intervention (CBT) family system-based programme, addressing lifestyle changes, children's emotional and social development and the family system, Arm 2) 'ENTREN' (n = 52) is a CBT family-based programme for children and parents, not addressing the family system, and Arm 3) Control group (CG) (n = 51) covers individual behavioural monitoring. All children were clinical interviewed to assess a diagnosis. Their effectiveness was assessed against six-month changes in children's body mass index (BMI) z-score, children's psychological well-being, levels of expressed maternal emotion, depression symptoms, parental feeding practices, levels of physical activity and sedentary lifestyles. The maintenance of the changes was evaluated for two years. High-attendance rates for ENTREN-F (72.6% vs. 66% vs. 33%, respectively) indicated its greater acceptance. After programme completion, the BMI z-score reduced by .5 points in almost 50% ENTREN-F (n = 22/45), 21.9% ENTREN (n = 7/32) and 11.8% (n = 2/17) CG participants. There were no significant differences between the three trial arms for anthropometric, psychological, or family-related measures. At the two-year follow-up, both ENTREN-F and ENTREN showed similar long-term effectiveness without between-group differences, and weight trajectories were favourable. ENTREN-F appears effective for childhood obesity management; however, the COVID-19 pandemic limited the sample size. Also, the tendency towards multiple differences in child and family outcomes could not be statistically shown. It also provides further evidence of the role of psychological and family-related factors that may underlie the origin and maintenance of weight gain.
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