title: Outcomes from an urban pediatric obesity program targeting minority youth: the Healthy Hawks program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of a family-based behavioral group treatment program with a group of urban, minority, low-income families.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and ten families enrolled in a 12-week family-based behavioral group treatment program for pediatric obesity. The program was offered in English and in Spanish and targeted the enrollment of low-income highly diverse youth and families. Primary outcome measures included child BMI z-score (zBMI), maternal BMI, 3-day diet record, and accelerometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-one percent of enrolled families completed the 12-week program. Significant 12-week outcomes were achieved for child zBMI (p<0.001) and for maternal BMI (p<0.001), as well as for child kcals (p<0.001), sugar-sweetened beverages (p=0.017), and red foods (p<0.001). Only change in child zBMI remained significant at 1 year (p<0.05). Physical activity outcomes were not significant and not in the expected direction. There were no differences in outcome by race/ethnicity, but by age, younger children had higher zBMI at baseline and were also more likely to decrease zBMI during the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to enroll and maintain urban, minority, low-income families in a family-based behavioral group treatment program for pediatric obesity. Outcome data indicate that these families achieve significant outcomes on zBMI, and that children who remain available for assessment maintain this at 1 year, which is an improvement over previous research using other intervention methodologies with this population.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatrics, Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles & Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, KS.
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Marina C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Daldalian
authors.forename: Carlene A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mayfield
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Marilyn L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sampilo
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Mijares
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suminski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006293:Health Promotion; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009043:Motor Activity; D009752:Nutritional Status; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011203:Poverty; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*