title: Loss to follow-up in a randomized controlled trial study for pediatric weight management (EPOC).
abstract: Attrition is a serious problem in intervention studies. The current study analyzed the attrition rate during follow-up in a randomized controlled pediatric weight management program (EPOC study) within a tertiary care setting.
  
  
  
  Five hundred twenty-three parents and their 7-13-year-old children with obesity participated in the randomized controlled intervention trial. Follow-up data were assessed 6 and 12 months after the end of treatment. Attrition was defined as providing no objective weight data. Demographic and psychological baseline characteristics were used to predict attrition at 6- and 12-month follow-up using multivariate logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  
  Objective weight data were available for 49.6 (67.0) % of the children 6 (12) months after the end of treatment. Completers and non-completers at the 6- and 12-month follow-up differed in the amount of weight loss during their inpatient stay, their initial BMI-SDS, educational level of the parents, and child's quality of life and well-being. Additionally, completers supported their child more than non-completers, and at the 12-month follow-up, families with a more structured eating environment were less likely to drop out. On a multivariate level, only educational background and structure of the eating environment remained significant.
  
  
  
  The minor differences between the completers and the non-completers suggest that our retention strategies were successful. Further research should focus on prevention of attrition in families with a lower educational background.
  
  
  
  Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN24655766 . Registered 06 September 2008, updated 16 May 2012.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Counseling Psychology, Potsdam University, Karl- Liebknecht- Str. 24/25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany. warschb@uni-potsdam.de.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7979-7451
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Warschburger
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Counseling Psychology, Potsdam University, Karl- Liebknecht- Str. 24/25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.|Department of Health Psychology, H:G Hochschule für Gesundheit & Sport, Technik & Kunst, Vulkanstraße 1, 10367, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kröller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs
keywords: Attrition; Child; Obesity; Predictors; Weight management trial