PreDictor Research in Obesity during Medical care - weight Loss in children and adolescents during an INpatient rehabilitation: rationale and design of the DROMLIN study.
BACKGROUND
Obesity in adults and children is increasing worldwide at alarming rates. Obese children and adolescents are likely to become obese adults with increased risk of a number of comorbidities. In addition to preventing the development of obesity at young age, it is necessary to individualize the therapy of already obese children and adolescents in order to increase the likelihood of weight loss and maintenance. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify predictors which play a significant role in successful weight loss and weight loss maintenance in children and adolescents.


METHODS
Over a one year period, 60 obese children and adolescents between 9 to 17 years of age shall be recruited at an inpatient children rehabilitation facility in Germany. They will be investigated twice within a few days following admission and prior to discharge. The study will be an integrated component of an established inpatient weight-loss and in part psychosomatic therapy. The collected data can be grouped into four clusters: 1) demographic, sociometric and psychometric data, 2) objective and subjective parameters of body condition, 3) autonomic nervous system regulated functions and 4) objective and subjective parameters for eating behavior. Primary outcome is the change of the body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS). In order to evaluate the data appropriately, all examinations will be also conducted in a normal-weight reference group, matched for age and gender.


CONCLUSIONS
For some of the collected parameters the time span between measures may be too short. Therefore, a 6 months, 1 year and 2 year follow-up will be performed for evaluating the different predictors and their influence in regard to a successful intervention. Further middle- and long-term follow-up studies are planned.


BACKGROUND
The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Tübingen, Germany. This study is registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) with the clinical trial number DRKS00005122.
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Helene
H
Sauer
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Anna
A
Krumm
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Katja
K
Weimer
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Björn
B
Horing
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Nazar
N
Mazurak
Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Marco D
MD
Gulewitsch
Fachkliniken Wangen i.A., Children Rehabilitation Hospital for Respiratory Diseases, Allergies and Psychosomatics, Wangen i.A., Germany.
Frank
F
Hellmond
Fachkliniken Wangen i.A., Children Rehabilitation Hospital for Respiratory Diseases, Allergies and Psychosomatics, Wangen i.A., Germany.
Dirk
D
Dammann
Fachkliniken Wangen i.A., Children Rehabilitation Hospital for Respiratory Diseases, Allergies and Psychosomatics, Wangen i.A., Germany.
Walter
W
Binder
Fachkliniken Wangen i.A., Children Rehabilitation Hospital for Respiratory Diseases, Allergies and Psychosomatics, Wangen i.A., Germany.
Peter
P
Linse
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Stephan
S
Zipfel
Public Health Department of Stuttgart, Department of Pediatrics, Dental Health Care, Health Promotion and Social Services, Stuttgart, Germany.
Stefan
S
Ehehalt
Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Gerhard
G
Binder
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Aydin
A
Demircioglu
Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.
Eric R
ER
Muth
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Paul
P
Enck
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital, Tübingen, Germany ; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Medical Hospital, Frondsbergstrasse 23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany.
Isabelle
I
Mack
Children; Inpatient; Obesity; Predictors; Rehabilitation; Weight loss; Weight loss maintenance