Community-based Obesity Intervention for Children and their Caregivers

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A Community-Based Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention for Children Who Are Overweight or Obese and Their Caregivers

Obesity is a major health concern for children in the United States. Almost 18% of children ages 6-11 years old have obesity which is defined for them as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for children of the same age. Childhood obesity is associated with many health risks including insulin resistance, hypertension, weight-related psychological stress, and more. Also, medical costs are 30% higher for children who have obesity compared to those who stay at a healthy weight. Childhood weight management is a complex issue because obesity is a condition that is due to environmental, social, and behavioral factors. 

There are four-stage pediatric obesity programs that begin with prevention efforts and structural weight management (stages 1 & 2). If these stages are not successful, stage 3 is a “comprehensive multidisciplinary intervention to modify the child’s behaviors and the home environment.” The last stage is not recommended for preadolescent children as it involves strenuous diet restriction, drug, or surgical treatment. Therefore, this study looked at the need for a more successful community-based stage 3 intervention program that involves the home setting.

The program studied was a stage 3 multidisciplinary obesity intervention program that was developed using social cognitive theory and incorporated pediatricians, dietitians, child activity specialists, and kinesiology faculty. The 16-week program involved children ages 6-10 years old who were referred by primary care physicians. The intervention activities were designed to encourage children’s healthy behaviors through positive interaction with their caregivers. Physical activity sessions took place to teach children physical activity and this physical activity was measured. Nutrition counseling took place to encourage more healthful foods and dietary intake was measured using a food frequency questionnaires. In conclusion, this study found that a 16-week community-based obesity prevention program designed for children and their caregivers was associated with a reduction in BMI scores and energy intake.

 

Xu, F., Marchand, S., Corcoran, C., DiBiasio, H., Clough, R., Dyer, C. S., & ... Greene, G. W. (2017). A Community-Based Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention for Children Who Are Overweight or Obese and Their Caregivers. Journal Of Obesity, 1-9. doi:10.1155/2017/2746595
 
KH

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