Which factors are associated with a successful outcome in a weight management programme for obese children?
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors important in determining whether an obese child achieves significant reductions in Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Score (BMI SDS) within a UK, hospital-based paediatric obesity service aimed at lifestyle modification.


METHODS
Observational Study.


METHODS
137 obese children (63 boys) who have attended our childhood obesity service within the last three and a half years at The Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK.


METHODS
BMI SDS with a target reduction of - 0.5 or greater.


RESULTS
70% of children achieved reductions in BMI SDS with 18% achieving the target reduction. In those attending the clinic for a year or more the levels improved to 83% and 28% respectively. Age was found to be the most important predictor with younger children achieving larger reductions in BMI SDS. More boys than girls were likely to achieve target reductions in BMI SDS and those without a parental history of obesity were more likely to achieve greater reductions in BMI SDS. Socio-economic status did not appear to impact upon the child's level of success.


CONCLUSIONS
In families of obese children, motivated to seek help by attending a hospital-based weight control clinic, improvements in BMI are possible by a simple approach of education and continued support. Improvement is greatest in younger children with maximal benefit being seen in boys without a parental history of obesity. We believe this emphasizes the importance of identifying significant obesity in primary school aged children, who seem most likely to benefit from simple lifestyle modification, while many older children may require additional intervention programmes to improve BMI.
Sabin
Matthew A
MA
Institute for Child Health, University of Bristol, and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK.
Ford
Anna
A
Hunt
Linda
L
Jamal
Riyaz
R
Crowne
Elizabeth C
EC
Shield
Julian P H
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015431:Weight Loss