title: Early intervention for childhood overweight: A randomized trial in general practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of two intervention modalities concerning overweight and obesity among children in general practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 general practices in the former County of Funen, Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overweight children, identified by International Obesity Task Force criteria, aged 5-9 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Model 1 with health consultations in general practice during a two-year period or Model 2, an educational programme for the children and their families in addition to the health consultations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Change in body mass index (BMI) z-score in order to compare the results, independent of gender- and age-related changes over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 80 children were recruited with 35 and 45 children allocated to Model 1 and Model 2, respectively. No significant differences were found in the change in BMI z-score (SDS) between the two groups. A decrease in the mean BMI z-score from baseline to study end of -0.20 (95%CI -0.38 to -0.01) in Model 1 and -0.26 (95%CI -0.44 to -0.09) in Model 2, respectively, was detected. The majority of the participants (2/3) continued in the study for more than one year in both models, with a mean of 12 consultations in general practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this particular setting the two intervention strategies against overweight and obesity did not differ significantly with regard to change in BMI z-scores.
authors.affiliation: a Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital , Denmark.
authors.forename: Lone Marie
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: a Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital , Denmark.
authors.forename: Niels Thomas
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Hertel
authors.affiliation: a Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital , Denmark.|c Department of Nutrition , Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mølgaard
authors.affiliation: b Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark , Denmark.
authors.forename: René Depont
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: a Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital , Denmark.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Husby
authors.affiliation: b Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark , Denmark.
authors.forename: Dorte Ejg
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jarbøl
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003718:Denmark; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D050177:Overweight; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs
keywords: Children; Denmark; family-based; general practice; long-term intervention; overweight; randomized controlled trial