Early intervention for childhood overweight: A randomized trial in general practice. (3rd July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Larsen, Lone Marie; Hertel, Niels Thomas; Mølgaard, Christian; Christensen, René Depont; Husby, Steffen; Jarbøl, Dorte Ejg
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of primary health care. Volume 33:Number 3(2015)
• Page Start: 184
• Page End: 190
• Publication Date: 2015-07-03
• Subjects: Children -- Denmark -- family-based -- general practice -- long-term intervention -- overweight -- randomized controlled trial; Primary health care -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.3109/02813432.2015.1067511
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0281-3432

Abstract

Abstract : Objective. To evaluate the effect of two intervention modalities concerning overweight and obesity among children in general practice. Design. Prospective randomized controlled trial. Setting. A total of 60 general practices in the former County of Funen, Denmark. Subjects. Overweight children, identified by International Obesity Task Force criteria, aged 5–9 years. Intervention. Model 1 with health consultations in general practice during a two-year period or Model 2, an educational programme for the children and their families in addition to the health consultations. Main outcome measures. Change in body mass index (BMI) z-score in order to compare the results, independent of gender- and age-related changes over time. Results. A total of 80 children were recruited with 35 and 45 children allocated to Model 1 and Model 2, respectively. No significant differences were found in the change in BMI z-score (SDS) between the two groups. A decrease in the mean BMI z-score from baseline to study end of −0.20 (95%CI −0.38 to −0.01) in Model 1 and −0.26 (95%CI −0.44 to −0.09) in Model 2, respectively, was detected. The majority of the participants (2/3) continued in the study for more than one year in both models, with a mean of 12 consultations in general practice. Conclusion. In this particular setting the two intervention strategies against overweight and obesity did not differ significantly with regard to change in BMI z-scores.