Relationship Between Engagement In A Pediatric Obesity Treatment Program And Post Intervention Activity

Abstract

Children living in rural areas have a higher risk for overweight/obesity and are less likely to be active. Research examining the relationship between comprehensive metrics of engagement and treatment outcomes is lacking in pediatric obesity treatments. PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of engagement in group sessions on post intervention moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SED) after an 8 month pediatric obesity treatment program. METHODS: 141 rural families with a child with overweight/obesity participated in an 8 month family based pediatric obesity treatment. During the intervention families attended 14 group sessions. Engagement was coded during 2 sessions using the Group Engagement Measure (GEM). Activity data (MVPA and SED) was collected at baseline and post intervention (8 month). Multilevel modeling analyses accounted for the cluster design of families nested within schools. RESULTS: 50 families attended at least one group session and were included in analyses. Over 8 months, on average, children (8.4 ± 1.4 years; 59% female) reduced their MVPA by 3.4 ± 19.5 min/day and increased their SED by 24.9 ± 54.3 min/day. Families had an average GEM score of 73.6 ± 6.6. There was a 7 min/day difference in child MVPA between families scoring high/low (+/- 1 SD from mean) on the GEM but this difference was not statistically significant. The difference in SED between high/low GEM scores was nonsignificant and not meaningful (1 min/day). CONCLUSIONS: Findings support that ratings of engagement during the intervention had a stronger relationship with MVPA than just participating in the intervention, though it provided limited insights into changes in MVPA and SED in this intervention. Further research is needed to quantify and investigate other factors that may be better predictors of success in treatment interventions for children with overweight/obesity in pursuit of developing innovative ways to increase children’s activity.