title: Feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a scalable, community-based treatment of childhood obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinic-based treatments of childhood obesity are effective but typically have limited reach and are costly. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a scalable weight management program for children and teenagers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 155 children and their parent/guardian. Children had a mean ± SD age of 11.3 ± 2.8 years, BMI z score of 2.23 ± 0.41, and a percentage overweight of 72.5 ± 34.0. Most (92%) were obese, and nearly half (46.5%) were ≥ 99th percentile for BMI. The primary outcome was change in percentage overweight from baseline to 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 months, children experienced a 3.4 percentage point reduction in percentage overweight (P = .001). Children <13 years had a 4.3 percentage point reduction in percentage overweight, whereas those ≥ 13 years had a 1.0 percentage point reduction. Those who attended a greater number of face-to-face group sessions experienced greater changes in percentage overweight. There were significant improvements in child health-related quality of life as reported by both children and their parents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that a scalable, community-based pediatric obesity intervention can result in clinically significant reductions in percentage overweight, as well as improvements in health-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, 3223 N. Broad St, Suite 175, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. gfoster@temple.edu
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sundal
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: Elissa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jelalian
authors.forename: Michelle R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lent
authors.forename: Deneen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vojta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration