title: Comparison of parent-only vs family-based interventions for overweight children in underserved rural settings: outcomes from project STORY.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of parent-only vs family-based interventions for pediatric weight management in underserved rural settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3-arm randomized controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  All sessions were conducted at Cooperative Extension Service offices in underserved rural counties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-three overweight or obese children (8-14 years old) and their parent(s).
  
  
  METHODS
  Families were randomized to (1) a behavioral family-based intervention, (2) a behavioral parent-only intervention, or (3) a wait-list control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was change in children's standardized body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-one children completed posttreatment (month 4) and follow-up (month 10) assessments. At the month 4 assessment, children in the parent-only intervention demonstrated a greater decrease in BMI z score (mean difference [MD], 0.127; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.027 to 0.226) than children in the control condition. No significant difference was found between the family-based intervention and the control condition (MD, 0.065; 95% CI, -0.027 to 0.158). At month 10 follow-up, children in the parent-only and family-based intervention groups demonstrated greater decreases in BMI z score from before treatment compared with those in the control group (MD, 0.115; 95% CI, 0.003 to 0.220; and MD, 0.136; 95% CI, 0.018 to 0.254, respectively). No difference was found in weight status change between the parent-only and family-based interventions at either assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A parent-only intervention may be a viable and effective alternative to family-based treatment of childhood overweight. Cooperative Extension Service offices have the potential to serve as effective venues for the dissemination of obesity-related health promotion programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, 101 S Newell Dr, Room 3151, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. djanicke@phhp.ufl.edu
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Janicke
authors.forename: Bethany J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sallinen
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.forename: Lesley D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Lutes
authors.forename: Milagros
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huerta
authors.forename: Janet H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Silverstein
authors.forename: Babette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brumback
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015431:Weight Loss