| Description |
Childhood obesity is a multifactorial problem with an undefined etiology. Environment and hereditary links have been made, but the exact cause remains to be discovered. Until a genetic basis and form of genetic intervention are discovered, the environmental influences will remain the target of treatment. Current research focuses on the obese person's environment since the variables are recognizable and often controllable. The most successful form of intervention to date is behavior modification. The weight maintenance results are as discouraging for children as they are for adults, with a failure rate of approximately 98%. Current literature suggests combining treatment approaches, such as behavior therapy, exercise, family participation, and follow-up. This study attempted to determine the effectiveness of a multidimensional family-oriented weight management program for children. Eight families attended a 10-week program, along with follow-up home visits, 1 and 3 months after the end of the class. The entire study lasted 6 months. A control group was recruited, retrospectively, to compare their weight and height changes with the intervention group over a 6 month period. The results revealed a weight maintenance for the intervention group during the 10-week program, with a decrease in percent over ideal weight after 6 months. The controls demonstrated an unpredictable course of weight gain, with an actual increase in the group's percent over ideal weight for height. The small sample size and method of control group data collection may have contributed to the lack of statistical significance. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p=.06) according to a 2-tailed independent sample t-test. A nonparametric median test was performed and also did not demonstrate statistical significance at the probability level of p = .05. These results strongly suggest difference between the two groups, and that the intervention was successful in altering the children's lifestyle habits which contributed to their excess weight. |
