title: Predictors of participant dropout at various stages of a pediatric lifestyle program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate baseline predictors of drop out at various stages in a lifestyle intervention for overweight and obese children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children and their families (N = 248) (aged 8-14 years) attended a lifestyle intervention. At baseline, we assessed anthropometric and demographic data, measured competence and behavioral problems, and family functioning. Dropout rates were analyzed at various stages in treatment with logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children who had mothers of non-white descent, who had higher BMI SDS, who participated in fewer activities, who did not have breakfast regularly, and who did not live in families with a static adaptability structure were more likely to drop out between 0 and 12 months. Different characteristics predicted dropout at various stages of treatment: (1) having an ethnic minority status and being older predicted dropping out between 0 and 3 months; (2) having a nonwhite mother, participating in fewer activities, having higher delinquency scores, and not presenting the family as extremely positive predicted dropping out between 3 and 9 months; and (3) having a higher BMI SDS, having fewer social problems, and not living in families with a static adaptability structure predicted dropping out between 9 and 12 months of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate different characteristics predict dropping out from a pediatric lifestyle program at various stages in treatment. These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions that target different characteristics at various stages of treatment to reduce drop out rates.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus University Medical Center, Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands. j.e.deniet@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Niet
authors.forename: Reinier
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Timman
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jongejan
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Passchier
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van den Akker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors