Family functioning and children's response to primary care treatment for overweight: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the relation between family functioning and children's response to treatment for overweight in a primary care setting.


METHODS
Sixty predominantly African American (72%) parents of children who are overweight were recruited from a pediatric outpatient clinic to provide information about family functioning. Children's success in treatment was tracked through medical chart review.


RESULTS
Parents' baseline self-report of family adaptability was associated with child body mass index z-scores (zBMI) at 3-month follow-up, although this association was no longer significant once baseline child zBMI was taken into account.


CONCLUSIONS
Families with greater ability to adopt/implement changes may have children who do better in weight loss treatment. This preliminary study provides a model for integrating family systems ideas into pediatric overweight research and offers heuristic value as well as directions for future research in primary care settings.
Dalton
William T
WT
Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA. daltonw@etsu.edu
Kitzmann
Katherine M
KM
Burghen
George A
GA
Mallare
Johanna T
JT
Stender
Sarah S
SS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology*; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005192:Family Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D013714:Tennessee; D016896:Treatment Outcome