The Malaysian Childhood Obesity Treatment Trial (MASCOT).
BACKGROUND
The present study describes a randomised controlled trial (RCT) based on a novel, generalisable intervention for childhood obesity, comparing the intervention with a no-treatment control group.


METHODS
The Malaysian Childhood Obesity Treatment Trial (MASCOT) was a single-blind RCT of a dietetic treatment for childhood obesity in children of primary school age (7 to 11 years old) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The MASCOT comprising eight sessions, of an 8-hour family-centred group treatment programme is described, based on behavioural change techniques. The study sample was characterised by BMI z-score, health related quality of life reported by participants and their parents (PedsQL questionnaire), objectively measured habitual physical activity and sedentary behaviour (Actigraph accelerometry)


RESULTS
The MASCOT sample of 107 children was characterised by a low quality of life, mean total score on PedsQL 67.7 (4.5) as reported by the children, and 66.0 (16.4) as reported by their parents. The children spent, on average, 89% of their waking day on sedentary activity, and 1% of the day in moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity, equivalent to only around 8 minutes/day.


CONCLUSIONS
Obese children in the MASCOT study had an impaired quality of life, high levels of sedentary behaviour and very low levels of physical activity.
University of Glasgow School of Medicine, Yorkhill Hospitals, Glasgow G3 8SJ, Scotland.
W W
WW
Sharifah
Hana H
HH
Nur
A T
AT
Ruzita
R
R
Roslee
J J
JJ
Reilly
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome