Childhood obesity and co-morbid problems: effects of Epstein's family-based behavioural treatment in an Icelandic sample.

• Published in: Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
• Main Authors: Gunnarsdottir, Thrudur, Njardvik, Urdur, Olafsdottir, Anna S, Craighead, Linda, Bjarnason, Ragnar
• Other Authors: University of Iceland, Centre of Public Health, Reykjavik, Iceland.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Behavior Therapy; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Comorbidity; Family Therapy; Female; Humans; Iceland; Male; Obesity; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Regression Analysis; Treatment Outcome
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/299081; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2010.01603.x

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field. This study assessed the effects of Epstein's family-based behavioural treatment in a clinical sample of obese children in Iceland. Also, it explored whether co-morbid concerns affect treatment outcome. Eighty-four obese children [mean body-mass-index standard-deviation-scores (BMI-SDS) = 3.11, aged 7.5-13.6 years] and a participating parent initiated treatment in response to a school-based screening. Sixty-one families completed treatment and were followed for 1 year post treatment. Measurements included height, weight, reports of psychological well-being (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, Children's Depression Inventory, Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale, Social Skills Rating System) and academic competencies. Among treatment completers a large effect size was obtained for change in BMI-SDS during treatment (mean difference = -0.40, SD = 0.29). Psychological well-being improved and treatment effects were maintained at 1-year follow-up. At baseline, 69% of the children presented with one or more co-morbid concerns. Children who scored above cut-off for concern on parent-reported hyperactivity (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire subscale T-score ≥ 65) reduced their BMI-SDS less during treatment than children with lower hyperactivity scores whereas children who scored in the clinical range for social anxiety (Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children subscale T-score ≥ 65) reduced their BMI-SDS significantly more than children with lower social anxiety scores. The social anxiety effect was still present at 1-year follow-up, but not the hyperactivity effect (P > 0.05). No differential response was shown for children with higher depression scores, lower self-concept or low academic competencies. Epstein's family-based behavioural treatment produced promising effects in both the short and the longer term in a clinical sample of Icelandic ...