title: Randomized controlled trial of the MEND program: a family-based community intervention for childhood obesity.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do it (MEND) Program, a multicomponent community-based childhood obesity intervention (www.mendcentral.org). One hundred and sixteen obese children (BMI >or= 98 th percentile, UK 1990 reference data) were randomly assigned to intervention or waiting list control (6-month delayed intervention). Parents and children attended eighteen 2-h group educational and physical activity sessions held twice weekly in sports centers and schools, followed by a 12-week free family swimming pass. Waist circumference, BMI, body composition, physical activity level, sedentary activities, cardiovascular fitness, and self-esteem were assessed at baseline and at 6 months. Children were followed up 12 months from baseline (0 and 6 months postintervention for the control and intervention group, respectively). Participants in the intervention group had a reduced waist circumference z-score (-0.37; P < 0.0001) and BMI z-score (-0.24; P < 0.0001) at 6 months when compared to the controls. Significant between-group differences were also observed in cardiovascular fitness, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and self-esteem. Mean attendance for the MEND Program was 86%. At 12 months, children in the intervention group had reduced their waist and BMI z-scores by 0.47 (P < 0.0001) and 0.23 (P < 0.0001), respectively, and benefits in cardiovascular fitness, physical activity levels, and self-esteem were sustained. High-attendance rates suggest that families found this intensive community-based intervention acceptable. Further larger controlled trials are currently underway to confirm the promising findings of this initial trial.
authors.affiliation: MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK. p.sacher@ich.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sacher
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolotourou
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Chadwick
authors.forename: Tim J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Margaret S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singhal
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D003256:Community Participation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012649:Self Concept; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*