Related Experiment Videos
[Parent-directed weight reduction program for obese children: model formulation and follow-up]
1Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Municipal Chung-Hsiao Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Insights
A parent-directed weight reduction program effectively decreased overweight percentages in obese children. Higher compliance correlated with greater success, indicating the program
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Public Health Nutrition
- Behavioral Medicine
Context:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern requiring effective interventions.
- Outpatient clinics in district general hospitals serve as key sites for managing pediatric obesity.
- Parental involvement is crucial for successful childhood weight management programs.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a parent-directed weight reduction program for obese children.
- To compare outcomes between children participating in the program and a control group.
- To identify factors influencing the success of childhood obesity interventions.
Summary:
- A 12-month prospective study compared 60 obese children in a parent-directed program with 52 controls.
- The program focused on nutrition, physical activity, family participation, and behavior modification.
- 48.9% of treated children showed reduced overweight percentage versus 18.8% of controls; compliance was key.
Impact:
- Parent-directed programs can significantly reduce overweight in obese children.
- Intervention success is linked to participant compliance and parental engagement.
- Findings support the integration of family-centered approaches in pediatric weight management.
Abstract:
To investigate the effect of a parent-directed weight reduction program on childhood obesity, a prospective 12-month follow-up study was performed at an outpatient clinic in a district general hospital. Sixty obese children, who, together with their parents received a free of charge weight reduction program, were compared with 52 obese controls who refused the program. The program included knowledge of childhood obesity and ways to decrease calories and increase physical activity; emphasized family participation and behavior modification; and stressed parent direction and self-responsibility. Complete outcome information relating to weight and height changes and a compliance questionnaire was available for 70.5% of these children after 1 year. Twenty three (48.9%) of the 47 children in the treatment group showed a decrease in the percentage they were overweight, compared to only six (18.8%) of the 32 control children. The mean changes in percentage overweight showed a decrease of 2.3% for the treatment children and an increase of 3.1% for the control children. Of the 23 children who were more successful during therapy, two had normal weight, 5 were overweight and 16 remained obese. Child height was not changed after weight reduction in those children in the treatment group who were more successful. The degree of compliance was significantly correlated to the change in percentage overweight. A decrease in percentage overweight was not significantly predicted by sex, age, or severity of obesity of the children, nor by whether the children were excessive eaters or partook in insufficient physical activity prior to the treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)