title: Obesity Management in Adolescents: Comparison of a Low-Intensity Face-to-Face Therapy Provided by a Trained Paediatrician with an Intensive Multidisciplinary Group Therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare the effects of a low-intensity face-to-face therapy provided by a trained paediatrician to an intensive group therapy provided by a multidisciplinary team on the BMI of adolescents with obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This longitudinal cohort study included 233 adolescents aged 11-18 years (mean 13.1 ± 1.7 years). Patients and their parents choose either a low-intensity face-to-face therapy or an intensive group therapy (total 88 h).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, the mean BMI was 29.4 ± 4.9 kg/m2. Within groups changes of BMI z-scores were significant at the end of follow-up both in the face-to-face (-0.2 ± 0.5) and the group therapy (-0.24 ± 0.5). There was no difference among groups. Younger age (12-14 years), gender, follow-up duration as well as BMI z-score at inclusion were significantly related to BMI z-score changes, independently of the type of intervention. As expected, the face-to-face therapy was far less expensive than the group therapy (USD 1,473.00 ± 816.00 vs. USD 6,473.00 ± 780.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low-intensity face-to-face therapy resulted in similar changes of the BMI z-score of adolescents than an intensive multidisciplinary group therapy. This approach could be easily disseminated in primary care settings with a specific training in obesity care.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chamay-Weber
authors.forename: Nathalie J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Farpour-Lambert
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saunders Gasser
authors.forename: Xavier E
authors.initials: XE
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gal
authors.forename: Albane B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Maggio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome