Early dropout and treatment adherence are main challenges in the treatment of children with obesity. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with attrition and adherence to weight loss intervention program. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all the children who entered the program for pediatric weight loss over 5 years and retrieved demographic and clinical characteristics. Attrition and adherence were documented. Ninety-two of the 248 enrolled children (52% women, mean age 11.1 ± 3.9 years, mean body mass index 31.1 ± 7 kg/m2) dropped out (37%). Dropping out correlated with male sex, low parental education, and self-referral to the clinic ( P < .05 for all). Adherence correlated with older age and the mother’s healthy lifestyle ( P < .05 for all). Sex, parental education, and referral source may predict treatment attrition. Early recognition of children at risk of attrition may help to facilitate better care of those children.

Abstract Background: Many obese children have at least one obese parent, and some of them have one parent who had undergone bariatric surgery (“bariatric families”). The perceptions and attitudes towards child obesity of parents in bariatric families vs. non-bariatric families have not been explored. We assessed how parents who underwent bariatric surgery for obesity perceived their child’s obesity compared to those perceptions of obese parents who did not undergo bariatric surgery.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey by interviewing families in which one or both parents underwent bariatric surgery (bariatric group) and comparing their responses to those of families in which one or both parents had been treated conservatively for obesity (control group). The children of both groups were attending the Obesity Clinic of our children’s hospital. Results: Thirty-six children (median age 10.6 years, 18 in each group, matched for age and sex) were recruited. More parents in the bariatric group replied that weight plays an important role in determining self-image (p<0.03), and more replied that their child's obesity is a current and future health problem (p<0.03 and p<0.007, respectively, Table 1). Five children (28%) in the bariatric group had expectations of undergoing bariatric surgery compared to none in the control group (p<0.02), with a similar trend among their parents (44% vs. 11%, respectively, p<0.07). Conclusion: Families in which one or both parents underwent bariatric surgery for obesity revealed different perceptions of their child’s obesity and different opinions about interventions for treating it compared to families with no bariatric surgery.

Background: Many obese children have at least one obese parent, and some of them have one parent who had undergone bariatric surgery ("bariatric families"). The perceptions and attitudes towards child obesity of parents in bariatric families vs. non-bariatric families have not been explored. We assessed how parents who underwent bariatric surgery for obesity perceived their child's obesity compared to those perceptions of obese parents who did not undergo bariatric surgery. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey by interviewing families in which one or both parents underwent bariatric surgery (bariatric group) and comparing their responses to those of families in which one or both parents had been treated conservatively for obesity (control group). The children of both groups were attending the Obesity Clinic of our children's hospital. Results: Thirty-six children (median age 10.6 years, 18 in each group, matched for age and sex) were recruited. More parents in the bariatric group replied that weight plays an important role in determining self-image (p < 0.03), and more replied that their child's obesity is a current and future health problem (p < 0.03 and p < 0.007, respectively, Table 1). Five children (28%) in the bariatric group had expectations of undergoing bariatric surgery compared to none in the control group (p < 0.02), with a similar trend among their parents (44% vs. 11%, respectively, p < 0.07). Conclusion: Families in which one or both parents underwent bariatric surgery for obesity revealed different perceptions of their child's obesity and different opinions about interventions for treating it compared to families with no bariatric surgery.

Abstract Background: Many obese children have at least one obese parent, and some of them have one parent who had undergone bariatric surgery (“bariatric families”). The perceptions and attitudes towards child obesity of parents in bariatric families vs. non-bariatric families have not been explored. We assessed how parents who underwent bariatric surgery for obesity perceived their child’s obesity compared to those perceptions of obese parents who did not undergo bariatric surgery.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey by interviewing families in which one or both parents underwent bariatric surgery (bariatric group) and comparing their responses to those of families in which one or both parents had been treated conservatively for obesity (control group). The children of both groups were attending the Obesity Clinic of our children’s hospital. Results: Thirty-six children (median age 10.6 years, 18 in each group, matched for age and sex) were recruited. More parents in the bariatric group replied that weight plays an important role in determining self-image (p<0.03), and more replied that their child's obesity is a current and future health problem (p<0.03 and p<0.007, respectively, Table 1). Five children (28%) in the bariatric group had expectations of undergoing bariatric surgery compared to none in the control group (p<0.02), with a similar trend among their parents (44% vs. 11%, respectively, p<0.07). Conclusion: Families in which one or both parents underwent bariatric surgery for obesity revealed different perceptions of their child’s obesity and different opinions about interventions for treating it compared to families with no bariatric surgery.