Family-based behavioural treatment of obesity: acceptability and effectiveness in the UK

Abstract

Objective: To assess the acceptability and impact of family-based behavioural treatment (FBBT) for childhood obesity in a clinical setting in the UK. Design: Pre-and post-treatment assessment for four consecutive treatment groups. Setting: Treatment groups took place at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. Patients: Participants were 33 families with obese (BMI X98th centile for age and sex) children aged 8-13 years. Intervention: FBBT was delivered over 12 sessions. Main outcome measures: Overweight (percentage BMI), self-esteem, mood and eating attitudes were assessed before and after treatment; overweight was re-assessed at 3-month follow-up for those who completed treatment. Results: The FBBT programme materials translated easily to the UK setting and the programme was well-liked by participants. Twenty-seven out of 33 families (82%) completed the sessions. Children lost 8.4% BMI over the time of treatment, and this was maintained at 3-month follow-up. Self-esteem and depression improved significantly and there was no change in food preoccupation, anorexia or bulimia on the ChEAT. Conclusions: These results establish that FBBT is feasible and acceptable in a clinical setting in Britain. They indicate that significant loss of overweight can be achieved using the programme without adverse psychological consequences.

What about the children? The experience of families involved in an adult-focused diabetes intervention

“…It is important to determine the prevalence, frequency and amount of such secretive behaviour among children in these families, whether it improves over time, and how to help parents adjust their strategies both to reduce this behaviour as well as the overall conflict around food. Perhaps strategies adopted from family-based child obesity treatment programmes could help instruct parents in adult lifestyle programmes in the delicate balance between too much restriction and necessary changes to help children eat healthily 28,29 . This study also suggests that some families may benefit from learning to prepare appetising healthy meals and from encouragement to keep offering new foods.…”

Evaluation of active and passive recruitment methods used in randomized controlled trials targeting pediatric obesity

“…Previous reports on pediatric obesity intervention trials have described the employment of various recruitment methods (2,5,(7)(8)(9). Generally, a distinction can be made between active recruitment methods (e.g., recruitment through pediatricians, targeted mailing), in which researchers identify and directly target potential participants, and passive recruitment methods (e.g., flyer and posters, newspaper advertisement), in which participants identify themselves as potential participants (10).…”

Ebeveyn besleme tarzı anketi geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması

“…fiiflmanl›¤›n çocukluk döneminde bafllad›¤› ve bu nedenle de ebeveyn fliflmanl›¤›n›n ileri yafllardaki fliflmanl›k için risk etmeni oldu¤u yayg›n bir düflüncedir (14,15). fiiflman olan ve olmayan ebeveynlerdeki beslenme tarz›n›n k›-yaslanmas› ve ebeveyn davran›fllar›, fliflmanl›k riskinin nesiller aras› aktar›m›n›n bir belirtisi olabilir.…”