Community Clinic-based Approach to Address Pediatric Obesity among a Predominantly Latino Sample of Youth Enrolled in a State Health Plan

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Comprehensive weight management interventions with family involvement are effective in reducing obesity among children and youth. This prospective cohort study examined whether youth who participated in a clinic-based, culturally-sensitive pediatric weight management intervention experienced reductions in BMI percentile, percent body fat, and waist circumference, from baseline to the end of the program. Methods: Participants included 240 children and youth (61.3% male) between ages 5 to 18 years (Mean age= 12.8 + 3.7 years), and nearly all of them were of Latino race/ethnicity. All participants were clinically diagnosed as overweight or obese and were referred to participate in the eight-week intervention, which included standard medical consultations, psychological counseling, and physical activity sessions for the youth participants, and nutrition education for their parents. Participants completed baseline and end-of-the-program assessments. Results: Participants experienced significant decreases in BMI percentile and body fat percentage after adjusting for growth in height. Older children were more likely to experience decreases in waist circumference relative to younger children. Conclusion: This study suggests that a clinic-based, culturally sensitive intervention may effectively reduce indicators of obesity among youth in predominantly Latino communities, beyond changes in these indicators due to normal growth.