title: A clinical model of obesity treatment is more effective in preschoolers and Spanish speaking families.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preschool and minority children have not been well represented in obesity treatment studies. This analysis of clinical obesity treatment was carried out within a diverse population of children 2-12 years to identify demographic characteristics associated with successful treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A medical record review captured BMI and demographics for children 2-12 years who began treatment during a 42-month period (n = 479). Associations of body mass index z-score (BMI-Z) change with child and family demographics were examined with logistic regression and time-to-event analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment led to a mean BMI-Z decrease of 0.18. Half of children with follow-up (n = 273) exceeded the a priori cut-off for successful treatment of -0.1 BMI-Z. Preschoolers and children of Spanish-speakers were more likely to succeed, (Adjusted OR: 5.8 [95% CI: 2.7-12.2] and 2.3 [95% CI: 1.1, 4.9]). The hazard ratio for treatment failure was 3.7 [95% CI: 2.1, 6.8] for children starting treatment at 6-12 years compared to preschoolers, adjusted for other demographics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This mode of treatment was more likely to succeed among children treated before school age and among children whose parents spoke only Spanish. Screening and treatment for obesity in preschoolers and Hispanic immigrant families deserve further prospective study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics Section of Nutrition, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Colorado, USA. matthew.haemer@ucdenver.edu
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haemer
authors.forename: Daksha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ranade
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Barón
authors.forename: Nancy F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Krebs
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs