Intervention in Overweight Children Improves Body Mass Index (BMI) and Physical Activity

Abstract

Background Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in family medicine with few clinical treatment options. We implemented and evaluated a group office-visit intervention by family physicians emphasizing nutrition and physical activity within a resiliency psychosocial model, for overweight children and their parents. Methods The intervention lasted for 3 months, with half of the children crossing over to intervention after 6 months on study. Participants included 35 children who met eligibility criteria of being in third through fifth grades and having a body mass index above the 85th percentile. The 3-month twelve-session intervention, “Choices”, included topics on nutrition, physical activity, and resiliency. The sessions were developed for delivery by a family physician, and a nutritionist, who all received training in positive psychology and resilience skills. Main outcome measures were body mass index (BMI) z-scores for age-and-gender, and weight-for-age-and-gender z-scores, as well as qualitative interviews to understand individual and family processes. Results The intervention resulted in a significant effect on one primary outcome, BMI z-score (-0.138 per 9 months (p =0.017) and a trend toward significance on the other, weight for age z-score (-0.87 per 9 months (p=0.09). The net shift of activity from the low METS to the high METS had an intervention effect of 2.84 METS (p = 0.037). Families reported lasting changes in behaviors and attitudes. Discussion The innovative approach used in this study demonstrated modest efficacy in reducing BMI z-score, changing physical activity levels, and possibly shifting family dynamics.

The Influence of a Therapeutic Programme on the Segmentary Body Composition in over - and Underweight Children at the Early-School Age: Pilot Studies

“…The changes ought to be introduced at the beginning of the educational path in order to initiate and strengthen proper habits in children. A child who becomes aware early enough of the positive aspects of healthy lifestyle will become a healthy, conscious adult who values health-promoting attitudes and active leisure time [23,24]. This intervention presents a positive direction in body composition changes in over-and underweight children.…”

Comparison of the Clinical and Biochemical Profile of Metabolic Syndrome Between Obese Children Below and Above 10-Years Old Attending Paediatric Clinic Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from 2006 to 2015

“…8 Early identification of these at-risk children by primary healthcare providers and prompt referral for early intervention may prevent the dire consequences of this burgeoning public health problem. 25 The IDF criteria for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was utilized in our study as the diagnostic methods were readily available and fairly cost effective. While BMI is a relatively sensitive and specific measure of childhood obesity, it is less suited for the assessment of visceral adiposity.…”

An Intensive Family Intervention Clinic for Reducing Childhood Obesity

“…6 The primary care setting provides the opportunity for interventions to reduce childhood obesity, such as those successfully reported in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Singapore. [7][8][9][10] There is moderate-to high-strength evidence that diet and/or physical activity interventions implemented in school settings help prevent weight gain or reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity, as noted in a 2013 report from the American Agency for Health Research and Quality. 11 The generalizability of evidence of the effectiveness of interventions primarily implemented in other settings is largely unknown.…”