title: Family-based behavioural intervention programme for obese children: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess a 2-year family-based behavioural intervention programme against child obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-group pre- and post-intervention feasibility study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swedish paediatric outpatient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  26 obese children aged 8.3-12.0 years and their parents who had consented to actively participate in a 2-year intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  25 paediatric outpatient group sessions over a 2-year period with parallel groups for children and parents. The basis for the programme was a manual containing instructions for tutor-supervised group sessions with obese children and their parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was change in standardised body mass index between baseline and after 36 months. The secondary outcome measures were change in the waist:height ratio, metabolic parameters and programme adherence. The participants were examined at baseline and after 3, 12 and 24 months of therapy and at follow-up 12 months after completion of the programme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary outcome measure, standardised body mass index, declined from a mean of 3.3 (0.7 SD) at baseline to 2.9 (0.7 SD) (p<0.001) at follow-up 12 months after completion of the programme. There was no change in the waist:height ratio. Biomedical markers of blood glucose metabolism and lipid status remained in the normal range. 96% of the families completed the programme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This feasibility study of a 2-year family-based behavioural intervention programme in paediatric outpatient care showed promising results with regard to further weight gain and programme adherence. These findings must be confirmed in a randomised controlled trial with longer follow-up before the intervention programme can be implemented on a larger scale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teder
authors.forename: Evalotte
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mörelius
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bolme
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nordwall
authors.forename: Joakim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ekberg
authors.forename: Toomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Timpka