title: Effectiveness of a publicly funded clinical paediatric weight management program on obesity outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of a publicly funded, paediatric weight management clinic in decreasing obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of patients four to 16 years of age, from 2006 to 2009, was performed at a medically supervised weight management clinic (n=121). Patients participated in monthly visits and were educated about the cognitive behavioural and nutritional aspects of weight management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample included 51 male and 70 female patients with a mean (± SD) initial age of 11.7±3.0 years. Patients participated in 6.4±6.5 visits (range one to 31 visits) over 13.7±15.5 months and 7.4% of patients discontinued treatment after their initial visit. Of the patients who attended the clinic >1 time, 66.1% attended for at least four months, 48.2% attended for >8 months and 33.0% attended for >1 year. Over the course of their treatment, patients experienced a weight gain of 3.8±9.5 kg, but a reduction in body mass index (BMI) percentile (-1.1±3.6%). Post-treatment, the prevalence of obesity decreased from 96.7% to 87.5%. Patients with longer treatment times (>12 months) attained significantly lower final BMI percentiles than patients with shorter treatment times; however, there was no difference in the rate of reduction. Initial treatment age, sex and medical conditions were not related to BMI percentile change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paediatric weight management program effectively reduced the prevalence of obesity. Patients who had longer treatment times experienced greater reductions in obesity. Overall, the present study highlights that long-term patient attendance may be needed to better support paediatric weight management patients.
authors.affiliation: Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York University;
authors.forename: Kristin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Serodio
authors.affiliation: Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York University;; Infant Child and Adolescent Nutrition Clinic, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Glenn B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Berall
authors.affiliation: Infant Child and Adolescent Nutrition Clinic, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Daniel I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Flanders
authors.affiliation: Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York University;
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kuk
keywords: Management; Paediatric; Treatment time; Weight