A family-based approach to preventing excessive weight gain.
OBJECTIVE
Preventing weight gain in adults and excessive weight gain in children is a high priority. We evaluated the ability of a family-based program aimed at increasing steps and cereal consumption (for breakfast and snacks) to reduce weight gain in children and adults.


METHODS
Families (n = 105) with at least one 8- to 12-year-old child who was at-risk-for-overweight or overweight (designated as the target child) were recruited for the study. Eighty-two families were randomly assigned to receive the family-based intervention and 23 families to the control condition. The 13-week intervention consisted of specific increases in daily steps (an additional 2000 steps/d) and consumption of 2 servings/d of ready-to-eat cereal.


RESULTS
The intervention was successful in increasing walking (steps) and cereal consumption. The intervention had positive, significant effects on percentage BMI-for-age and percentage body fat for target children and weight, BMI, and percentage body fat for parents. On further analysis, the positive effects of the intervention were seen largely in target girls and moms, rather than in target boys and dads.


CONCLUSIONS
This family-based weight gain prevention program based on small changes holds promise for reducing excessive weight gain in families and especially in growing overweight children.
Rodearmel
Susan J
SJ
University of Colorado School of Medicine, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, C263, Denver, CO 80262, USA.
Wyatt
Holly R
HR
Barry
Mary J
MJ
Dong
Fang
F
Pan
Dongmei
D
Israel
Richard G
RG
Cho
Susan S
SS
McBurney
Michael I
MI
Hill
James O
JO
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D002523:Edible Grain; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*