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

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/m2 in individual family and 2.1 kg/m2 in group intervention (between‐group −0.9kg/m2, 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.