A controlled study of lifestyle treatment in primary care for children with obesity

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of lifestyle treatment in primary care for children with obesity. Methods: In a multicentre study, sixty-four 9-to 13-year-old children with obesity were randomized to one of two 12-month lifestyle treatment programmes. The only difference between the programmes was that a physiotherapist substituted the nurse in one-third of the sessions in an attempt to stimulate physical activity. For comparison, children with normal weight and overweight, and an age-, sex-and body mass indexmatched non-intervention group of children with obesity were used. Results: Anthropometry and laboratory data differed significantly between children with obesity and normal weight at baseline. The follow-up at the end of treatment was attended by 55 children with obesity, 28 and 27 in each treatment arm. The mean (standard deviation) body mass standard deviation score changed by-0.36 (0.3) in the arm involving a physiotherapist and by-0.33 (0.2) in the other arm. These outcomes were not significantly different. Both reductions were significantly greater than the change of-0.14 (0.3) observed in the non-intervention comparison group of children with obesity Conclusion: The efficacy of treatment in primary care for children with obesity seems to be comparable to that reported in the literature. ISRCTN44919688. © 2012 The Authors.