title: A Tailored Family-Based Obesity Intervention: A Randomized Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a 2-year family-based intervention using frequent contact and limited expert involvement was effective in reducing excessive weight compared with usual care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and six overweight and obese (BMI ≥85th percentile) children aged 4 to 8 years were randomized to usual care (UC) or tailored package (TP) sessions at university research rooms. UC families received personalized feedback and generalized advice regarding healthy lifestyles at baseline and 6 months. TP families attended a single multidisciplinary session to develop specific goals suitable for each family, then met with a mentor each month for 12 months, and every third month for another 12 months to discuss progress and provide support. Outcome measurements (anthropometry, questionnaires, dietary intake, accelerometry) were obtained at 0, 12, and 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BMI at 24 months was significantly lower in TP compared with UC children (difference, 95% confidence interval: -0.34, -0.65 to -0.02), as was BMI z score (-0.12, -0.20 to -0.04) and waist circumference (-1.5, -2.5 to -0.5 cm). TP children consumed more fruit and vegetables (P = .038) and fewer noncore foods (P = .020) than UC children, and fewer noncore foods were available in the home (P = .002). TP children were also more physically active (P = .035). No differences in parental feeding practices, parenting, quality of life, child sleep, or behavior were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frequent, low-dose support was effective for reducing excessive weight in predominantly mild to moderately overweight children over a 2-year period. Such initiatives could feasibly be incorporated into primary care.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine, rachael.taylor@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Rachael W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Services, Southern District Health Board, Dunedin, New Zealand; and.
authors.forename: Adell
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Services, Southern District Health Board, Dunedin, New Zealand; and.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Deirdre A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meredith-Jones
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition.
authors.forename: Jillian J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Haszard
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health, and.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health, and.
authors.forename: Barry J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand;
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D057285:Precision Medicine; D013997:Time Factors