Family-based Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment Research Articles

Predictors of parent self-monitoring patterns in a family-based behavioral weight loss treatment program.

Self-monitoring dietary intake is a critical component of family-based intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment for pediatric obesity, but adherence rates are often low. This study identifies predictors of parent self-monitoring rates during treatment. A secondary analysis of parent self-monitoring data from a randomized controlled trial involving 150 parent-child dyads. Patterns of self-monitoring were identified using a latent class mixed model approach. Logistic regression analyses evaluated predictors of self-monitoring patterns. Latent class models identified two trajectory groups: a high consistent self-monitoring group and a low-decreasing self-monitoring group. When compared to parents in the low group, parents in the high group lost more weight throughout treatment. Children in the high group had a similar trajectory for weight loss; however, the groups were not statistically different. Higher levels of family chaos and poorer family problem-solving skills were associated with higher odds of being in the low group. This study identified two patterns of rates of parent self-monitoring, which were associated with parent weight loss and were differentiated by family chaos and poor problem-solving. These findings suggest that families with high levels of chaos and poor problem-solving could benefit from early intervention to improve outcomes in pediatric obesity treatment programs. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01197443.

390 Adaptation and Evaluation of Guideline-Based Family-Based Behavioral Treatment for Overweight and Obesity in Childhood Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Childhood survivors of ALL are at considerable risk for late effects which are exacerbated by excess weight. The proposed study involves the adaption and evaluation of the first empirically supported intervention for childhood survivors of ALL that is consistent with all national recommendations for the treatment of childhood obesity. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The proposed intervention will be adapted from family-based behavioral weight loss treatment (FBT) a multicomponent intervention which targets diet, activity, behavioral skills, parenting, and social facilitation among children and their parents. The Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced structure (FRAME), a dissemination and implementation framework, will guide the adaptation, allowing for the incorporation of feedback previously gathered from key stakeholders. A single-arm, non-randomized trial of the adapted intervention will then be conducted to evaluate its acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary indications of efficacy including measures of relative weight change and associated health-related behaviors among 40 childhood ALL survivors and their families. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Self-reported feedback from families at the end of treatment (EoT) is anticipated to demonstrate that this intervention will be regarded as both acceptable and feasible. Other measures of feasibility will include attendance and retention rates, which are expected to reflect to those of previous FBT trials (92% and 85%, respectively). Preliminary indications of the efficacy of the adapted intervention will be investigated through the comparison of a series of measurements taken at both baseline and EoT. Changes in relative weight will be assessed and are expected to meet a previously established range of clinically meaningful reduction in child percent overweight of 9 units or more. Improvements in dietary intake, physical activity, and health related quality of life are also anticipated. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Knowledge gained from the implementation of the first evidence-based intervention adapted for childhood survivors of ALL will be critical to the justification of a larger-scale, randomized controlled trial and holds promise to effectively modify the risk for chronic disease among a vulnerable population.

Design of the GOT Doc study: A randomized controlled trial comparing a Guided Self-Help obesity treatment program for childhood obesity in the primary care setting to traditional family-based behavioral weight loss

Currently one-third of children in the United States have overweight or obesity (OW/OB). The goal of Healthy People 2020 is to reduce the proportion of children with OW/OB and increase the proportion of primary care visits that include nutrition and weight-related counseling. Unfortunately, many health care providers find it difficult to offer effective weight-related counseling and treatment in the primary care setting. Therefore, new models of care are needed that allow a greater proportion of children with OW/OB and their parents to access care and receive quality weight management treatment. The current paper describes the GOT Doc study which is designed to test the effectiveness of a Guided Self-Help (GSH) model of obesity treatment that can be delivered in the primary care setting compared to a traditional Family-Based Behavioral weight loss treatment (FBT) delivered at an academic center. We will assess the impact of this program on attendance (access to care) and changes in child BMI percentile/z-score. We will also examine the impact of this treatment model on change in child lifestyle behaviors, parent support behaviors, and parent self-efficacy and empowerment to make behavior change. Finally, we will assess the cost-effectiveness of this model on changes in child BMI percentile/z-score. We believe the GSH intervention will be a cost-effective model of obesity management that can be implemented in community practices around the country, thereby increasing access to treatment for a broader proportion of our population and decreasing rates of childhood obesity.

Family Encouragement of Healthy Eating Predicts Child Dietary Intake and Weight Loss in Family-Based Behavioral Weight-Loss Treatment.

Introduction: Social support for healthy eating can influence child eating behaviors; however, little is known about the impact of social support during family-based behavioral weight-loss treatment (FBT). This study aimed to determine the impacts of both baseline and change in family support on change in child diet and weight during FBT. Methods: Children (n = 175; BMI percentile ≥85th; ages 7-11; 61.1% female; 70.9% white) and a participating parent completed 4 months of FBT. Parents were active participants and learned social support-related strategies (i.e., praise and modeling of healthy eating). Child perceived family encouragement and discouragement for healthy eating, child diet quality (via 24-hour recalls), and child weight were assessed pre- and post-FBT. Results: Family encouragement for healthy eating increased during FBT, and this increase was related to increases in child healthy vegetable intake and overall diet quality, as well as decreases in refined grains consumed. Low pre-FBT family encouragement predicted greater increases in healthy vegetable intake, greater weight reduction, and greater increases in family encouragement for healthy eating. Family discouragement for healthy eating did not change during treatment nor did it predict dietary or weight outcomes. Conclusions: FBT successfully improves family encouragement, which is associated with improvements in child diet. Furthermore, even children who began treatment with low family encouragement for healthy eating show great improvements in dietary intake and weight during treatment. Results suggest that changes in child eating behavior during treatment is influenced by active, positive parenting techniques such as praise of healthy eating rather than negative family support.

Adiposity, Hepatic Triglyceride, and Carotid Intima Media Thickness During Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment in Antipsychotic-Treated Youth: A Randomized Pilot Study.

Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate changes in adiposity, carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), and hepatic fat content measured via magnetic resonance imaging-estimated hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) in antipsychotic (AP)-treated youth versus nonpsychiatric (NP) participants during participation in a 16-week behavioral weight loss (BWL) intervention. Subjects/Methods: Overweight/obese AP-treated youth (n = 26) were randomized 2:1 to weekly treatment versus recommended care (RC) over 16 weeks. NP controls (n = 21) were assigned to weekly treatment. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)-measured adiposity, CIMT, and PDFF were measured at baseline and 16 weeks. Analyses assessed group differences in the effect of BWL on adiposity, CIMT, and PDFF. Results: BWL was well tolerated in both AP-treated and NP groups. DEXA-measured fat decreased significantly in the NP group (F[1,16] = 11.81, p = 0.003), with modest improvements in adiposity and hepatic fat in the AP-treated group, while an increase in adiposity was observed in the RC group. Significant differences in endpoint DEXA total fat (F[2,34] = 4.81, p = 0.01) and PDFF (F[2,30] = 3.60, p = 0.04) occurred across treatment groups, explained by larger improvements in NP versus RC youth in DEXA total fat (p = 0.03) and PDFF (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Intensive, family-based BWL treatment can improve whole-body adiposity and liver fat in obese youth, with decreases or attenuation of additional fat gain observed in AP-treated youth.

Factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms among children seeking treatment for obesity: A social-ecological approach.

Children with overweight/obesity are more likely to exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety than are their peers without overweight/obesity; however, the rates and correlates of depression and anxiety symptoms among children seeking obesity treatment remain unclear. Examine the prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety symptoms among treatment-seeking children with overweight/obesity. Children 7 to 11years old (N=241) and their parents completed assessments before beginning family-based behavioral weight-loss treatment. Disorder-specific self-report questionnaires assessed child depression and anxiety. The social-ecological model served as a framework for examining factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Among our sample, 39.8% (96/241) met clinical cutoffs for depression and/or anxiety symptomatology. Specifically, of these 96, 48 met criteria for both depression and anxiety, 24 for depression only, and 24 for anxiety only. Child eating disorder pathology, parents' use of psychological control (ie, a parenting style characterized by emotional manipulation), and lower child subjective social status were significantly associated with greater child depression symptomatology. Child eating disorder pathology and parent psychological control were significantly associated with greater child anxiety symptomatology. Nearly 40% of children exhibited psychopathology symptoms, and a variety of correlates were found. Thus, pediatric weight-loss providers may consider screening for and addressing mental health concerns (and associated factors) prior to and during treatment.

Child and parent reports of children's depressive symptoms in relation to children's weight loss response in family-based obesity treatment.

Studies of the association between children's depressive symptoms and obesity treatment response show mixed results. Different measurement may contribute to the inconsistent findings, as children's depressive symptoms are often based on parent-report about their child rather than child self-report. We assessed both child- and parent-report of child depressive symptoms as predictors of children's obesity treatment response. Children with overweight/obesity (body mass index [BMI]≥85th percentile; N=181) and their parents reported on children's depressive symptoms prior to family-based behavioral weight loss treatment. Child percent overweight reduction from baseline to post-treatment was not predicted by child self-reported depressive symptoms or parent-report of child symptoms (P>0.80), but was significantly predicted by the interaction between child self-report and parent-report on child (β=0.14, P=0.05). In analyses using clinical cutoffs, amongst children with high self-reported symptoms, those whose parents reported low child depressive symptoms had greater reduction in percent overweight (t=2.67, P=0.008), whereas amongst children with low self-reported symptoms, parent ratings were not associated with treatment outcome. Including both child self-report and parent-report of child depressive symptoms may inform obesity care. Research is needed to examine differences amongst child and parent depressive symptom reports and strategies to address symptoms and optimize pediatric obesity treatment.

Dose, Content, and Mediators of Family-Based Treatment for Childhood Obesity

Elucidation of optimal dosing and treatment content is critical for health care providers, payers, and policy makers, as well as mechanisms of change to inform intervention delivery and training initiatives for childhood obesity. To evaluate effects, following a 4-month family-based behavioral weight loss treatment (FBT), of 2 doses (HIGH or LOW) of a weight-control intervention (enhanced social facilitation maintenance [SFM+]) vs a weight-control education condition (CONTROL; matched for dose with LOW), on child anthropometrics, and to explore putative mediators of weight loss outcomes. For this parallel-group randomized clinical trial conducted at 2 US academic medical centers from December 2009 to March 2013, 172 parent-child dyads completed FBT and were then randomized to 8 months of SFM+ (HIGH, n = 59; LOW, n = 56) or CONTROL (n = 57). Children (aged 7-11 years) with overweight and obesity (body mass index [BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared] ≥85th percentile) with at least 1 parent with overweight and obesity (BMI ≥25) were recruited. HIGH SFM+ vs LOW SFM+ (CONTROL matched the dose of LOW). Intention-to-treat analysis using mixed-effects models estimated change in child percentage overweight (percentage above the median BMI for a child's age and sex) for the FBT period (0-4 months) and the SFM+ period (4-12 months), and proportion of children achieving a clinically significant change in percentage overweight (≥9-unit decrease; months 0-12). Theory-based outcome mediators were also evaluated. This study recruited 172 parent-child dyads (mean [SD] age: parents 42.3 [6.4] years; children, 9.4 [1.3] years). The omnibus treatment × time interaction for child percentage overweight was significant (F8, 618.9 = 2.89; P = .004). Planned pairwise comparisons revealed that from months 4 to 12, LOW had better outcomes than CONTROL (difference, -3.34; 95% CI, -6.21 to -0.47; d = -0.40; P = .02). HIGH had better outcomes than LOW (difference, -3.37; 95% CI, -6.15 to -0.59; d = -0.38; P = .02) and CONTROL (difference, -6.71; 95% CI, -9.57 to -3.84; d = -0.77; P < .001). A greater proportion of children in HIGH (45 [82%]) vs LOW (34 [64%]) (difference, 18.00; 95% CI, 1.00-34.00; P = .03; number needed to treat = 5.56) and CONTROL (25 [48%]) (difference, 34.00; 95% CI, 16.00-51.00; P < .001; number needed to treat = 2.94) had clinically significant percentage overweight reductions. Food and activity monitoring and goal setting mediated the effect of LOW vs CONTROL (50%). Monitoring and goal setting, family and home environment, and healthy behaviors with peers mediated the effect of HIGH vs CONTROL (25%-42%). Following FBT, specialized intervention content (SFM+) enhanced children's weight outcomes and outperformed a credible control condition, with high dose delivery yielding the best outcomes. Sustained monitoring and goal setting, support from the family and home environment, and healthy peer interactions explained outcome differences, highlighting key treatment targets. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00759746.

Patterns of Eating Disorder Pathology are Associated with Weight Change in Family-Based Behavioral Obesity Treatment.

ObjectiveChildren with overweight/obesity have elevated eating disorder (ED) pathology, which may increase their risk for clinical EDs. The current study identified patterns of ED pathology in children with overweight/obesity entering family-based behavioral weight loss treatment (FBT), and examined whether children with distinct patterns differed in their ED pathology and zBMI change across FBT.MethodsBefore participating in 16-session FBT, children (N=241) completed surveys/interviews assessing ED pathology [emotional eating, shape/weight/eating concerns, restraint, and loss of control (LOC)]. Shape/weight concerns and LOC were also assessed post-treatment. Child height/weight were measured at baseline and post-treatment. Latent class analysis identified patterns of ED pathology. Repeated-measures ANOVA examined changes in zBMI and ED pathology.ResultsFour patterns of ED pathology were identified: Low ED Pathology, Shape and Weight Concerns, Only Loss of Control, and High ED Pathology. Shape/weight concerns decreased across treatment, with highest decreases in patterns characterized by high shape and weight concerns. All groups experienced significant decreases in zBMI; however, children with the highest ED pathology did not achieve clinically significant weight loss.ConclusionsED pathology decreased after FBT, decreasing ED risk. While all children achieved zBMI reductions, further research is needed to enhance outcomes for children with high ED pathology.

Decreasing food fussiness in children with obesity leads to greater weight loss in family-based treatment.

Food fussiness (FF), or the frequent rejection of both familiar and unfamiliar foods, is common among children and, given its link to poor diet quality, may contribute to the onset and/or maintenance of childhood obesity. This study examined child FF in association with anthropometric variables and diet in children with overweight/obesity participating in family-based behavioral weight loss treatment (FBT). Change in FF was assessed in relation to FBT outcome, including whether change in diet quality mediated the relation between change in FF and change in child weight. Child (N = 170; age = 9.41 ± 1.23) height and weight were measured, and parents completed FF questionnaires and three 24-h recalls of child diet at baseline and post-treatment. Healthy Eating Index-2005 scores were calculated. At baseline, child FF was related to lower vegetable intake. Average child FF decreased from start to end of FBT. Greater decreases in FF were associated with greater reductions in child body mass index and improved overall diet quality. Overall, diet quality change through FBT mediated the relation between child FF change and child body mass index change. Children with high FF can benefit from FBT, and addressing FF may be important in childhood obesity treatment to maximize weight outcomes.

Reduction in Food Away from Home Is Associated with Improved Child Relative Weight and Body Composition Outcomes and This Relation Is Mediated by Changes in Diet Quality

BackgroundReducing consumption of food away from home is often targeted during pediatric obesity treatment, given the associations with weight status and gain. However, the effects of this dietary change on weight loss are unknown. ObjectiveOur aim was to evaluate associations between changes in dietary factors and child anthropometric outcomes after treatment. It is hypothesized that reduced consumption of food away from home will be associated with improved dietary intake and greater reductions in anthropometric outcomes (standardized body mass index [BMI] and percent body fat), and the relationship between food away from home and anthropometric outcomes will be mediated by improved child dietary intake. DesignWe conducted a longitudinal evaluation of associations between dietary changes and child anthropometric outcomes. Child diet (three 24-hour recalls) and anthropometric data were collected at baseline and 16 weeks. Participants/settingParticipants were 170 overweight and obese children ages 7 to 11 years who completed a 16-week family-based behavioral weight-loss treatment as part of a larger multi-site randomized controlled trial conducted in two cohorts between 2010 and 2011 (clinical research trial). InterventionDietary treatment targets during family-based behavioral weight-loss treatment included improving diet quality and reducing food away from home. Main outcome measuresThe main outcome measures in this study were child relative weight (standardized BMI) and body composition (percent body fat). Statistical analysesWe performed t tests and bootstrapped single-mediation analyses adjusting for relevant covariates. ResultsAs hypothesized, decreased food away from home was associated with improved diet quality and greater reductions in standardized BMI (P<0.05) and percent body fat (P<0.01). Associations between food away from home and anthropometric outcomes were mediated by changes in diet quality. Specifically, change in total energy intake and added sugars mediated the association between change in food away from home and standardized BMI, and change in overall diet quality, fiber, added sugars, and added fats mediated the association between change in food away from home and percent body fat. Including physical activity as a covariate did not significantly impact these findings. ConclusionsThese results suggest that reducing food away from home can be an important behavioral target for affecting positive changes in both diet quality and anthropometric outcomes during treatment.

Predictors of child weight loss and maintenance among family-based treatment completers.

To examine general and treatment-specific predictors of children's weight outcomes during a pediatric weight management trial. One hundred fifty overweight children-69.3% female; M body mass index (BMI) z score (z-BMI) = 2.21 ± 0.30-completed family-based behavioral weight loss treatment (FBT), followed by randomization to social facilitation maintenance (SFM) treatment addressing social support and body image; behavioral skills maintenance treatment (BSM), which extended FBT skills to maintenance; or a control condition with no maintenance treatment. Regression and mixed-effects repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) examined child and parent anthropometric, demographic, and psychosocial variables in predicting relative weight outcomes over short- and long-term follow-ups. Among FBT completers, lower child baseline z-BMI and age, and greater parent BMI reductions during FBT and baseline self-efficacy, predicted better child relative weight loss following FBT, F(6, 137) = 7.77, p < .001. Higher child-reported post-FBT eating pathology predicted greater relative weight loss in SFM than BSM or control from post-FBT to 2-year follow-up, F(4,255.88) = 3.48, p = .009, whereas higher parent-reported post-FBT social support predicted greater relative weight loss in BSM than control, F(2,141.65) = 3.28, p = .04. Lower parent-reported post-FBT behavioral problems predicted greater relative weight loss in SFM and BSM versus control, F(2,147.84) = 7.37, p < .001; higher problems predicted equivalent outcome across treatments. SFM may improve weight outcomes for FBT completers with initially higher eating pathology, whereas extending FBT skills may be effective for those with higher familial support. These results suggest that certain pretreatment variables moderate the effectiveness of different pediatric weight control interventions. Further understanding these findings may help optimally match families to treatments.

Adherence to behavioral targets and treatment attendance during a pediatric weight control trial

Better weight loss outcomes are achieved in adults and youth who adhere to obesity treatment regimens (i.e., session attendance and prescribed changes in weight control behaviors). However, more research is needed regarding children's adherence to a range of behaviors relevant for weight maintenance over long-term follow-up. Overweight children (N = 101, aged 7-12 years), along with an overweight parent, participated in a 20-week family-based behavioral weight loss treatment (FBT) and were then assigned to either a behaviorally focused or socially focused 16-week weight maintenance treatment (MT). Treatment attendance and child and parent adherence (i.e., reported use of skills targeted within treatment) were examined in relation to child percent overweight change from baseline to post-FBT, post-MT, and 2-year follow-up. Higher attendance predicted better child weight outcomes at post-MT, but not at 2-year follow-up. Adherence to self-regulatory skills/goal-setting skills predicted child weight outcomes at 2-year follow-up among the behaviorally focused MT group. Future research is needed to examine mediators of change within family-based weight control interventions, including behavioral and socially based targets. Incorporating self-regulatory weight maintenance skills into a comprehensive MT may maximize children's sustained weight control.

Adherence to Behavioral Targets and Treatment Attendance During a Pediatric Weight Control Trial

Better weight loss outcomes are achieved in adults and youth who adhere to obesity treatment regimens (i.e., session attendance and prescribed changes in weight control behaviors). However, more research is needed regarding children’s adherence to a range of behaviors relevant for weight maintenance over long-term follow-up. Overweight children (N=101, aged 7-12 years), along with an overweight parent, participated in a 20-week family-based behavioral weight loss treatment (FBT) and were then assigned to either a behaviorally-focused or socially-focused 16-week weight maintenance treatment (MT). Treatment attendance and child and parent adherence (i.e., reported use of skills targeted within treatment) were examined in relation to child percent overweight change from baseline to post-FBT, post-MT, and 2-year follow-up. Higher attendance predicted better child weight outcomes at post-MT, but not at 2-year follow-up. Adherence to self-regulatory skills/goal-setting skills predicted child weight outcomes at 2-year follow-up among the behaviorally-focused MT group. Future research is needed to examine mediators of change within family-based weight control interventions, including behavioral and socially-based targets. Incorporating self-regulatory weight maintenance skills into a comprehensive MT may maximize children’s sustained weight control.

Importance of Early Weight Change in a Pediatric Weight Management Trial

Early weight change is associated with overall weight loss treatment response in adults but has been relatively unexplored in youth. We investigated the importance of early weight change in a pediatric weight control trial. Overweight children aged 7 to 12 years (n=204) participated in a randomized controlled trial of 2 weight maintenance treatments (MTs) after a 20-week family-based behavioral weight loss treatment (FBT). Hierarchical regression was used to investigate the relation between children's percentage weight change at sessions 4, 6, and 8 of FBT and BMI z-score reductions after FBT and at the 2-year follow-up. Correlations and hierarchical regression were used to identify child and parent factors associated with children's early weight change. Children's percentage weight change by FBT session 8 was the best predictor of BMI z-score reductions after FBT and at 2-year follow-up. Percentage weight change in children at session 8 was associated with better FBT attendance and with greater percentage weight change in parents at FBT session 8. Early weight change seems to be related to treatment response through the end of treatment and 2-year follow-up. Future research should include investigation of strategies to promote early weight change in children and parents and identification of mechanisms through which early weight change is related to overall treatment response.

Psychosocial and familial impairment among overweight youth with social problems

Emerging research indicates that overweight children with social impairments are less responsive to weight control interventions over the long term. A better understanding of the breadth and psychosocial correlates of social problems among overweight youth is needed to optimize long-term weight outcomes. A total of 201 overweight children, aged 7-12 years, participated in a randomized controlled trial of two weight maintenance interventions following family-based behavioral weight loss treatment. Children with HIGH (T ≥ 65) versus LOW (T<65) scores on the Child Behavior Checklist Social Problems subscale were compared on their own and their parents' pre-treatment levels of psychosocial impairment using multivariate analysis of variance. Hierarchical regression was used to identify parent and child predictors of social problems in the overall sample. HIGH (n = 71) children evidenced greater eating disorder psychopathology and lower self-worth, as well as a range of interpersonal difficulties, compared with LOW children (n = 130; ps<0.05). Compared with parents of LOW children, parents of HIGH children reported greater levels of their own general psychopathology (p<0.05). Parent psychopathology significantly added to the prediction of social problems in the full sample beyond child sex and z-BMI (ps<0.01). A substantial minority of overweight youth experience deficits across the social domain, and such deficits appear to be associated with impairment in a broad range of other psychosocial domains. Augmenting weight loss interventions with specialized treatment components to address child and parent psychosocial problems could enhance socially-impaired children's long-term weight outcomes and decrease risk for later development of psychiatric disturbances.

Efficacy of Maintenance Treatment Approaches for Childhood Overweight

No trials for childhood overweight have examined maintenance interventions to augment the effects of initial weight loss programs. To determine the short-term and long-term efficacy of 2 distinct weight maintenance approaches vs no continued treatment control following standard family-based behavioral weight loss treatment for childhood overweight, and to examine children's social functioning as a moderator of outcome. A parallel-group, randomized controlled trial conducted between October 1999 and July 2004 in a university-based weight control clinic. Participants were 204 healthy 7- to 12-year-olds, 20% to 100% above median body mass index (BMI) for age and sex, with at least 1 overweight parent. Children enrolled in 5 months of weight loss treatment and 150 were randomized to 1 of 3 maintenance conditions. Follow-up assessments occurred immediately following maintenance treatments and 1 and 2 years following randomization. Maintenance conditions included the control group or 4 months of behavioral skills maintenance (BSM) or social facilitation maintenance (SFM) treatment. BMI z score and percentage overweight. Children receiving either BSM or SFM maintained relative weight significantly better than children assigned to the control group from randomization to postweight maintenance (P< or =.01 for all; effect sizes d = 0.72-0.96; mean changes in BMI z scores = -0.04, -0.04, -0.05, and 0.05 for BSM alone, SFM alone, BSM and SFM together, and the control group, respectively). Active maintenance treatment efficacy relative to the control group declined during follow-up, but the effects of SFM alone (P = .03; d = 0.45; mean change in BMI z score = -0.24) and when analyzed together with BSM (P = .04; d = 0.38; mean change in BMI z score = -0.22) were significantly better than the control group (mean change in BMI z score = -0.06) when examining BMI z score outcomes from baseline to 2-year follow-up. Baseline child social problem scores moderated child relative weight change from baseline to 2-year follow-up, with low social problem children in SFM vs the control group having the best outcomes. The addition of maintenance-targeted treatment improves short-term efficacy of weight loss treatment for children relative to no maintenance treatment. However, the waning of effects over follow-up, although moderated by child initial social problems, suggests the need for the bolstering of future maintenance treatments to sustain effects. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00301197.

Perception of eating and exercise in children as a function of child and parent weight status

The present study assessed the effects of child body weight (obese/lean) and familial loading for obesity (two obese parents/two lean parents) on the psychophysics of sweetness, fatness and exercise workloads, as well as subjective ratings of foods varying in sugar and fat and activities varying in energy expenditure. Children were measured in a baseline state and at 6 months after the obese children had participated in a family-based behavioral weight control program. No differences between obese and lean children in perceptual ratings were observed. However, offspring of obese or lean parents differed on intensity rating, food palatability and activity enjoyment ratings. Intensity ratings for sweetness in offspring of obese parents was increased, with a similar trend for intensity ratings for fatness. Offspring of obese parents rated all foods and activities with lower palatability and enjoyment ratings than offspring of lean parents. After a 6 month family-based behavioral weight loss treatment, obese children had significant decreases in percent overweight while lean children remained stable. Changes in the pattern of food ratings were observed for the obese children, with a reduction in liking for foods high in fat and/or sugar, and an increase in ratings for foods lower in fat and sugar. The effects of parental obesity on food and exercise intensity ratings and hedonic ratings were maintained. Overall, these results suggest parental weight influences behavioral factors related to obesity in children.