title: Cost-effectiveness of family-based group treatment for child and parental obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity runs in families, and family-based behavioral treatment (FBT) is associated with weight loss in overweight/obese children and their overweight/obese parents. This study was designed to estimate the costs and cost-effectiveness of FBT compared to separate group treatments of the overweight/obese parent and child (PC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty overweight/obese 8- to 12-year-old children with overweight/obese parents were randomly assigned to 12 months of either FBT or PC treatment program. Assessment of societal costs (payer plus opportunity costs) were completed based on two assumptions: (1) programs for parent and child were available on separate days (PC-1) or (2) interventions for parent and child were available in the same location at sequential times on the same day (PC-2). Cost-effectiveness was calculated based on societal cost per unit of change using percent overBMI for children and weight for parents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average societal cost per family was $1,448 for FBT and $2,260 for PC-1 (p < 0.001) and $2,124 for PC-2 (p < 0.001). Child cost-effectiveness for FBT was $209.17/percent overBMI, compared to $1,036.50/percent overBMI for PC-1 and $973.98/percent overBMI for PC-2. Parent cost-effectiveness was $132.97/pound (lb) for FBT and $373.53/lb (PC-1) or $351.00/lb (PC-2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For families with overweight/obese children and parents, FBT presents a lower cost per unit of weight loss for parents and children than treating the parent and child separately. Given the high rates of pediatric and adult obesity, FBT may provide a unique cost-effective platform for obesity intervention that alters weight in overweight/obese parents and their overweight/obese children.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences , Buffalo, NY.
authors.forename: Leonard H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: Rocco A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Paluch
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Wrotniak
authors.forename: Tinuke Oluyomi
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kilanowski
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilfley
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents; D015397:Program Evaluation; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss