title: Childhood obesity: results of a multicenter study of obesity treatment in Italy.
abstract: The prevalence of pediatric obesity is increasing and many patients are followed by specialized centers or private doctors. The aim of this study was to verify short- and medium term results of a therapeutic approach based on nutritional intervention in a large pediatric population: 1383 subjects (695 females, 688 males) aged 10.1 +/- 2.7 yr, followed in 11 pediatric departments in Italy. No difference was found between centers in age, height, weight, BMI and IBW. The drop-out rate after the first visit was 30.2% (58.1% IBW > 140%) in females and 34.2% (70.7% IBW > 140%) in males. After two years of follow-up only 9.7% of females and 6.4% of males remained on treatment. Of these patients only 7.3% of females and 6.4% of males had IBW < 120%. These data show that an approach based on nutritional intervention alone is not sufficient for long-term treatment of pediatric obesity. Only an approach started early and involving the family can produce permanent results.
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Social Pediatrics and Pediatric Diabetes Unit, Verona University Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinelli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elerdini
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Faith
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Agnello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambruzzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leggeri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Livieri
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Monetti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peverelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvatoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seminara
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uasone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietrobelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017211:Treatment Failure