title: Effectiveness of a Multi-Component Intervention for Overweight and Obese Children (Nereu Program): A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of childhood obesity is a complex challenge for primary health care professionals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of the Nereu Program in improving anthropometric parameters, physical activity and sedentary behaviours, and dietary intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled, multicentre clinical trial comparing Nereu Program and usual counselling group interventions in primary care settings. The 8-month study recruited 113 children aged 6 to 12 years with overweight/obesity. Before recruitment, eligible participants were randomly allocated to an intensive, family-based multi-component behavioural intervention (Nereu Program group) or usual advice from their paediatrician on healthy eating and physical activity. Anthropometric parameters, objectively measured sedentary and physical activity behaviours, and dietary intake were evaluated pre- and post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the study period, both groups achieved a similar decrease in body mass index (BMIsd) compared to baseline. Nereu Program participants (n = 54) showed greater increases in moderate-intense physical activity (+6.27% vs. -0.61%, p<0.001) and daily fruit servings (+0.62 vs. +0.13, p<0.026), and decreased daily soft drinks consumption (-0.26 vs. -0.02, p<0.047), respectively, compared to the counselling group (n = 59).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the end of the 8-month intervention, participants in the Nereu Program group showed improvement in physical activity and dietary behaviours, compared to the counselling group.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01878994.
authors.affiliation: Asociación Nereu, Alimentación Saludable y Ejercicio Físico, Región Sanitaria de Lleida, Lleida, España.|Escuela Superior de Ciencias de la Salud, TecnoCampus Mataró. Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, España.|Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Lleida, Lleida, España.
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Serra-Paya
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC) of Lleida, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Assumpta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ensenyat
authors.affiliation: Asociación Nereu, Alimentación Saludable y Ejercicio Físico, Región Sanitaria de Lleida, Lleida, España.
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Castro-Viñuales
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Lleida, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol. USR-IDIAP Jordi Gol, Lleida, Spain.|Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Sant Cugat, Barcelona.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Real
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Department, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Xènia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sinfreu-Bergués
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Lleida, Lleida, España.|Nutrition Department, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.affiliation: Asociación Nereu, Alimentación Saludable y Ejercicio Físico, Región Sanitaria de Lleida, Lleida, España.
authors.forename: Jose María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mur
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Lleida, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol. USR-IDIAP Jordi Gol, Lleida, Spain.|Centre d'Atenció Primària Primer de Maig. Institut Català de la Salut, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galindo-Ortego
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain.|Departament de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Solé-Mir
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Atenció Primària Primer de Maig. Institut Català de la Salut, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Concepció
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teixido
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012572:School Health Services; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013030:Spain