Parent skills training to enhance weight loss in overweight children: evaluation of NOURISH.
OBJECTIVE
Although there is general agreement that parents should be involved in pediatric obesity treatment, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of interventions that target parents exclusively. Moreover, the effectiveness of this approach has not been adequately assessed with racially diverse families, particularly African Americans(AA), a group at high risk for elevated Body Mass Index (BMI).


METHODS
NOURISH (Nourishing Our Understanding of Role modeling to Improve Support and Health) is a culturally-sensitive parenting intervention targeting overweight (AA) children (ages 6-11; MBMI = 98.0%ile). Families (N = 84; 61% AA, 37% White) were randomly assigned to NOURISH or a control group.


RESULTS
NOURISH families significantly improved on child BMI from pre- to post-testing after adjustment for random effects, baseline BMI, and child race. NOURISH parents were very satisfied with the intervention and would recommend it to other parents; 91% strongly or moderately agreed that NOURISH helped them eat in a healthier manner.


CONCLUSIONS
These pilot data suggest that NOURISH is acceptable and, with refinement, offers promise for reducing pediatric BMI. Outcomes, lessons learned, and parent feedback will inform a larger randomized controlled trial.
Department of Pediatrics and Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States. Electronic address: semazzeo@vcu.edu.
Suzanne E
SE
Mazzeo
Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
Nichole R
NR
Kelly
Department of Pediatrics and Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
Marilyn
M
Stern
Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
Rachel W
RW
Gow
Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
Elizabeth W
EW
Cotter
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 7160, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
Laura M
LM
Thornton
Department of Health and Human Performance, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
Ronald K
RK
Evans
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 7160, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
Cynthia M
CM
Bulik
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*
African American; Intervention; Overweight; Parenting; Pediatric obesity