Short-Term Predictors for Weight Correction Success of the First Paediatric Weight Correction Programme in Children’s Clinical University Hospital in Riga

Abstract

Background and objectives: The efficacy of a weight correction programme can be affected by such predictors as the number of contact hours, gender, age, baseline weight, parental weight status, psycho-emotional status, insulin resistance, and socioeconomic status. The aim of this current study was to evaluate the overall efficacy of the Weight Correction Programme at Children’s Clinical University Hospital, and explore the impact of the probable predictors. We evaluated the efficacy depending on gender, age, parental weight status, signs of depression, baseline body mass index z-score (z-BMI), and baseline waist circumference. Materials and Methods: The data were gathered from medical records. The inclusion criteria were as follows: Entered the programme by 13 June 2017, at least five years old, follow-up data available. All the respondents were divided into two age groups: <10 years old and ≥10 years old. Results: The study included 181 respondents. They were 5 to 17 years old on the first day of participation in the Weight Correction Programme. Results indicated that 117 (65%) patients managed to reduce z-BMI and 69 (38%) patients achieved clinically significant reduction of z-BMI. Boys had four times higher odds (odds ratio (OR) = 4,22; CI 1.37–13.05; p = 0.012) to reduce their z-BMI by at least 0.20 units than girls. The respondents of the older age group (≥10 years) had a better chance to reduce z-BMI than the younger ones (OR = 11,51; CI 2.04–64.83; p = 0.006). The odds to reduce z-BMI were lower by 7% for every extra cm of waist circumference (OR = 0.93; CI 0.88–0.99; p = 0.014) for reducing z-BMI. The follow-up time was also a positive predictor, and with every month the odds for clinically significant z-BMI reduction increased by 7% (OR = 1.07; CI 1.00–1.15; p = 0.047). The parental weight status, signs of depression, and baseline z-BMI were not significant predictors. Conclusions: More than half of the patients of the respondents managed to reduce their z-BMI. Female gender, younger age, and larger waist circumference were negative predictors.

Multidisciplinary Treatment for Childhood Obesity: A Two-Year Experience in the Province of Naples, Italy

“…Furthermore, BMI-SDS changes were more likely to be maintained/decreased in patients who had a greater baseline WC. This is in contrast with the findings of previous studies, who reported larger initial waist circumference as a negative predictor of BMI-SDS reduction in lifestyle interventions for obesity treatment, suggesting the need for addressing more intensive interventions with obese children with specific abdominal fat distribution [ 41 , 42 ]. In agreement with systematic research on the predictors of weight loss and body weight loss maintenance in children with obesity, pre-existing physical activity did not have great impact on the success of the therapy [ 43 ].…”

Role of Parents in Body Mass Reduction in Children with Obesity—Adherence and Success of 1-Year Participation in an Intervention Program

“…The measurements of body mass and height were taken by a dietitian according to a widely applied methodology [35] using a calibrated weighing scale with an accuracy of ± 0.1 kg and a stadiometer with an accuracy of ± 0.5 cm. The BMI was calculated using the Quetelet's equation (body mass (kg)/height 2 (m 2 )), and the BMI percentile was assessed using the gender-and age-dependent growth reference cutoffs for children and adolescents suggested by the CDC [20] and related software [31,32], which were applied to indicate the specific percentile. A decreased BMI percentile was defined as a difference of more than one percentile between percentiles at the beginning of the program and after 1 year.…”

“…Family's place of residence (an open-ended question with the answer attributed to one of the following categories: village, city); − Parental marital status (a closed-ended question with the following possible answers: married, in a marriage-like relationship, separated, widowed, single; these were clustered afterwards into married/in a marriage-like relationship, separated/widowed/single); The measurements of body mass and height were taken by a dietitian according to a widely applied methodology [35] using a calibrated weighing scale with an accuracy of ± 0.1 kg and a stadiometer with an accuracy of ± 0.5 cm. The BMI was calculated using the Quetelet's equation (body mass (kg)/height 2 (m 2 )), and the BMI percentile was assessed using the gender-and age-dependent growth reference cutoffs for children and adolescents suggested by the CDC [20] and related software [31,32], which were applied to indicate the specific percentile. A decreased BMI percentile was defined as a difference of more than one percentile between percentiles at the beginning of the program and after 1 year.…”

Predictors of Effectiveness and Adherence in a Multimodal Obesity Treatment Program for Children and Adolescents in Routine Care

“…However, the need for further research into treatment motivation in children and adolescents with obesity was stressed [ 11 ]. The results for child and adolescent age and sex as predictors for successful weight loss have been contradictory [ 13 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]; one study found significantly greater treatment success in adolescent girls compared with treatment success in children and boys [ 21 ]. As an anthropometric parameter, a higher baseline weight status did not predict a greater BMI(-SDS) reduction within the scope of juvenile obesity therapies [ 14 , 19 , 20 ], despite a conflicting nature of the evidence [ 18 ].…”