Treating childhood obesity: Family background variables and the child's success in a weight-control intervention

Abstract

Objective: To analyze whether caregiver and family characteristics predict success in a family-based lifestyle intervention program for children and adolescents. Method: Participants were 111 overweight and obese children (7-15 years) who attended a family-based weightreduction program. Body mass index (BMI) and BMI standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS) of index child, and BMI of family members, family adversity characteristics, depression, and attachment attitudes of the primary caregiver were assessed. Results: Risk of nonresponse (≤5% reduction of BMI-SDS or dropout) was elevated in older children, cases with obese sibling(s), maternal depression, and avoidant attachment attitude. In a logistic regression analysis, maternal depression, attachment attitude, and age of index child explained common variance whereas the presence of obese siblings explained unique variance in nonresponding. Discussion: To meet the specific needs of all participating families and to prevent the discouraging experience of failure in weight-control interventions, our data suggest that special support should be provided to adolescents with obese siblings, and cases of maternal depression, and avoidant attachment attitude. © 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.