No additional long‐term effect of group vs individual family intervention in the treatment of childhood obesity—A randomised trial

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica
• Main Authors: Kokkvoll, Ane Sofie, Grimsgaard, Sameline, Flægstad, Trond, Andersen, Lars Bo, Ball, Geoff D. C., Wilsgaard, Tom, Njølstad, Inger
• Other Authors: Helse Nord RHF
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2019
• Subjects: Norway; Finnmark; Troms
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apa.14916; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fapa.14916; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/apa.14916; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/apa.14916

Abstract Aim Long‐term evaluations of childhood obesity treatments are needed. We examined changes in weight and cardiometabolic risk 1 year after children completed individual family or group‐based weight management interventions. Methods In 2009‐2010, 6‐ to 12‐year‐old children with overweight or obesity from Finnmark and Troms (Norway) were recruited after media coverage and randomised to 24 months of individual family (n = 49) or group intervention (n = 48). Individual family intervention included counselling by a paediatric hospital team and a public health nurse in the local community. Group intervention included meetings with other families and a multidisciplinary hospital team, weekly physical activity sessions and a family camp. The primary outcome body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic risk factors were analysed 12 months after intervention. Results From baseline to 36 months, children's BMI increased 3.0 kg/m 2 in individual family and 2.1 kg/m 2 in group intervention (between‐group −0.9kg/m 2 , P = 0.096). Data were available from 62 children (64%). Between‐group differences in C peptide ( P = 0.01) were detected in favour of group intervention. Pooled data from both treatment groups showed continued decrease in BMI standard deviation score ( P < 0.001). Conclusion No between‐group difference in BMI was observed 12 months after intervention. Both groups combined showed sustained decrease in BMI standard deviation score.