title: 18-month outcomes of a community-based treatment for childhood obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have evaluated community-based interventions for childhood obesity and even fewer provide efficacy data 1 year later.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed changes in relative weight 1 year after a 6-month treatment for childhood obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 155 overweight/obese children/adolescents and their caregivers. The primary outcome was change in child percent over body mass index (BMI) from 6 to 18 months. The primary outcome was also assessed from 0 to 18 months and changes in secondary outcomes (BMI z-score, guardian weight, health-related quality of life [HRQoL]) were examined from 6-18 to 0-18 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 6 to 18 months, there were no significant changes in any outcome. From 0 to 18 months, there were improvements in BMI z-score (P < 0.001), HRQoL (P < 0.001) and guardian weight (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in relative weight and HRQoL observed after 6 months persisted 1 year later. The programme produced reductions in BMI z-score and obesity prevalence but not in percent over BMI from 0 to 18 months.
authors.affiliation: Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sundal
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lent
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jelalian
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vojta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Behavioural treatment; childhood obesity; community interventions