title: Family functioning and children's response to primary care treatment for overweight: a preliminary study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA. daltonw@etsu.edu
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kitzmann
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Burghen
authors.forename: Johanna T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Mallare
authors.forename: Sarah S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Stender
mesh_terms: 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