title: Causes and patterns of referral to a tertiary, multidisciplinary program for the treatment of childhood obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the childhood obesity epidemic, few obese children receive therapy and relatively few weight management multidisciplinary programs exist.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the patterns and causes for obese children referrals to a tertiary multidisciplinary childhood obesity treatment program. A total of 227 children (10.6 +/- 2.6 years; 108 boys, 119 girls) were evaluated at the beginning of the programs for personal and familial demographic and anthropometric details, the referring agent to the program, and the main reasons for participation and for the child's desire to lose weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of participants had an obese family member (83%), in particular an obese parent (62%). The majority of patients were self-referred (86.8%), mainly by their mothers (74%). Only a small fraction were referred by healthcare providers (15.4%). The desire to improve appearance (44.5%), social/psychological issues (39.2%) and the will to improve fitness (29.5%) were the main reasons for joining the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the motives for participation and referral patterns can improve recruitment and participation of obese children in weight reduction intervention programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, Child Health and Sports Center, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Gili
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yaeger-Yarom
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nemet
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eliakim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012923:Social Class