title: The Efficacy of a Family-Based Intervention Program on Childhood Obesity: A Quasi-Experimental Design.
abstract: The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to assess the efficacy of a family-based (FB) weight-loss and behavior-modification intervention among overweight/obese children (age 9-11 years) and their parents in Taiwan. The intervention group (52 child-parent dyads) participated in an FB program for 7 weeks. The control group (55 child-parent dyads) received an educational pamphlet about obesity prevention. The children's body mass index (BMI) z-scores were the primary outcome variable. The parents' BMI, high-calorie (HC) food-intake behaviors, screen-related behaviors, and restrictions on children's consumption of HC foods and screen-related behaviors and the availability of HC foods at home were the secondary outcome variables. Outcome variables were measured at baseline (T0), at the end of the intervention (T1), and 4 weeks after the end of the intervention (T2). A linear mixed model was used to assess the efficacy of the FB program. Results indicated that the children's BMI z-scores decreased significantly more from T0 to T2 in the experimental group than in the control group. The decreases in parents' HC food-intake behaviors and availability of HC foods at home and the increase in parental restrictions on children's consumption of HC foods were significantly greater in the experimental than in the control group from T0 to T1 and T0 to T2. The FB program was effective in modifying parental behaviors and the weight of overweight/obese children in a Taiwanese population.
authors.affiliation: Administration Division, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chai-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Administration, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Chan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Yueh
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan wrhsia@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ruey-Hsia
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Chien-Yu Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012107:Research Design; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: efficacy; family-based intervention program; overweight/obese children