Outcomes of the SNWMC revealed significant decreases in BMIz with <5 sessions on average over 12 months and indicated the increased efficacy of early intervention in youth with disabilities. Future research should continue to modify interventions for families with adolescent children with disabilities as well as investigate additional variables that may impact success in treatment.

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Objective: Ascertain the psychometric properties of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS®) Depression (PROMIS-D®) and Anxiety (PROMIS-A®) Short Forms in a sample of presurgical bariatric patients. Method: This retrospective chart review included 259 patients who completed a presurgical psychological evaluation comprising a semistructured interview and self-report measures. Other data used included demographics, psychiatric diagnoses, and initial psychological clearance for surgery (yes/no). Reliability of the PROMIS-D® and PROMIS-A® instruments was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, interitem correlations, and item-total correlations. Convergent, predictive, and concurrent validity were assessed using various methods (correlations, logistic regressions, and generalized linear models) to determine whether PROMIS® instruments were correlated with similar measures, predicted surgical clearance and psychiatric diagnosis, and whether psychiatric diagnosis status was associated with significantly different PROMIS® scores. Categorical confirmatory factor analyses assessed the factor structure, and multiple-indicator multiple cause models assessed invariance. Results: Patients were predominantly female (78%), white (97%) and middle-aged (M = 43.49, SD = 11.26). Rates of diagnosed anxiety and depression-related disorders were high (17% and 23%). At least 65% of respondents reported “never” or “rarely” experiencing symptoms across both measures, and the mean T scores for the PROMIS-A® and PROMIS-D® were 48.31 (SD = 8.99) and 48.64 (SD = 9.49), respectively. Both measures demonstrated good psychometric properties and were essentially unidimensional. Conclusions: Analyses supported using both PROMIS® measures. Additionally, two subgroups were identified: those who reported virtually no symptoms of anxiety or depression, likely because they want surgical approval, and those not receiving initial psychological clearance for surgery based on PROMIS® self-reported scores indicating distress and clinician-diagnosed psychopathology.

Reducing obesity prevalence requires effective, early intervention. Yet, there is a paucity of research on effective family based behavioral treatments (FBBTs) for preschool-aged children, and youth from diverse ethnic backgrounds are underrepresented. Methodological issues also complicate the measurement of change in adiposity in young children. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a brief FBBT targeting diverse, underserved families. The study examined child weight over time and explored differential effectiveness of the program based on child age and ethnicity. The study additionally examined differences in outcomes based on adiposity measurement strategy. Methods: One hundred fifty-seven children with overweight/obesity (ages 2-9) and their families participated in a 6week, no cost, group FBBT intervention at a large Midwestern children's hospital. Parents were the primary targets of treatment, although the entire family attended sessions. Child height and weight were measured at baseline, end of treatment (6 weeks), and 6-month follow-up. Results: Children evidenced significant reductions in weight when measured by Body Mass Index z-score (zBMI) and percent of the 95th percentile. Young children (ages 2-5) had significantly higher zBMI at baseline, and experienced more significant reductions in zBMI over time, compared to older children. There were no significant differences in weight change based on ethnicity. Conclusions: This brief FBBT group intervention demonstrated effectiveness among ethnically diverse youth and was especially effective for young children.