Camp-based family treatment of childhood obesity: randomised controlled trial. Issue 4 (2nd November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Benestad, Beate; Lekhal, Samira; Småstuen, Milada Cvancarova; Hertel, Jens Kristoffer; Halsteinli, Vidar; Ødegård, Rønnaug Astri; Hjelmesæth, Jøran
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 102:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 303
• Page End: 310
• Publication Date: 2016-11-02
• Subjects: Obesity -- Metabolic -- RCT -- Family-based treatment; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2015-309813
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To compare the effectiveness of a 2-year camp-based family treatment programme and an outpatient programme on obesity in two generations. Design: Pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Setting: Rehabilitation clinic, tertiary care hospital and primary care. Patients: Families with at least one child (7–12 years) and one parent with obesity. Interventions: Summer camp for 2 weeks and 4 repetition weekends or lifestyle school including 4 days family education . Behavioural techniques motivating participants to healthier lifestyle. Main outcome measures: Children: 2-year changes in body mass index (BMI) SD score (SDS). Parents: 2-year change in BMI. Main analyses: linear mixed models. Results: Ninety children (50% girls) were included. Baseline mean (SD) age was 9.7 (1.2) years, BMI 28.7 (3.9) kg/m 2 and BMI SDS 3.46 (0.75). The summer-camp children had a lower adjusted estimated mean (95% CI) increase in BMI (−0.8 (−3.5 to −0.2) kg/m 2 ), but the BMI SDS reductions did not differ significantly (−0.11 (−0.49 to 0.05)). The 2-year baseline adjusted BMI and BMI SDS did not differ significantly between summer-camp and lifestyle-school completers, BMI 29.8 (29.1 to 30.6) vs 30.7 (29.8 to 31.6) kg/m 2 and BMI SDS 2.96 (2.85 to 3.08) vs 3.11 (2.97 to 3.24), respectively. The summer-camp parents had a small reduction in BMI (−0.9 (−1.8 to −0.03) vs −0.8 (−2.1 to 0.4) in the lifestyle-school group), but the within-group changes did not differ significantly (0.3 (−1.7 to 2.2)). Conclusions: A 2-year family camp-based obesity treatment programme had no significant effect on BMI SDS in children with severe obesity compared with an outpatient family-based treatment programme. Trial registration number: NCT01110096.