[Favourable short-term effects of a multidisciplinary, behavioural therapy, group treatment for overweight or obese children].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary, behavioural therapy, group therapy for obese children.


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
The treatment consisted of 8 child and 2 parent sessions over a period of 10 weeks, in the Sint Franciscus Gasthuis Hospital in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Attention was devoted to eating behaviour, physical exercise and psychosocial aspects. Data were collected about children treated in the period 1999-2002. Inclusion criteria were: age 7-14 years, body-mass index (BMI) > or = 25 kg/m2, spoke Dutch, and no problematic behaviour according to the CBCL (total score < 70). Outcome measures were BMI, energy uptake, treadmill endurance time in the Bruce test, and problematic behaviour. There were three measurement points: 3 months before the treatment, immediately before the treatment and immediately after the treatment.


RESULTS
7 of the 78 children who were to participate dropped out. The study cohort consisted of 52 girls and 19 boys with an average age of 10.5 years. In the months prior to the treatment there was no statistically significant change in the outcomes. During the treatment period all of the children lost weight. The mean BMI decreased by 1.7 kg/m2 (-0.3 SDS), the mean daily energy uptake decreased by 1242 kJ and the maximal endurance time increased by 0.8 min (all: p < 0.001). There was no significant decrease in the score for problematic behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
For the overweight or obese children who followed the treatment programme the BMI and energy intake decreased during the programme and the fitness increased.
Groen
M
M
Afd. Medische Psychologie, Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, Postbus 10.9oo, 3004 BA Rotterdam. m.groen@sfg.nl
van den Akker
E
E
van 't Spijker
A
A
Pot
D J
DJ
Trijsburg
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D016896:Treatment Outcome