Evaluation of three new strategies to fight obesity in families

Abstract

Aims. To evaluate 3 strategies to reduce weight in obese families. Research design and methods. 142 obese parents and 119 obese children kept a fat-calorie restriction diet. On top of this diet, the families were randomized in a three-factorial design to one or more of three weight-loss strategies: (1) an additional diet preferring carbohydrates having a low glycemic index (dual diet), (2) financial incentive, and (3) telemonitoring of weight and physical activity. Results. All children improved their BMI-SDS by 0.18 ± 0.25 (P < .001) independently of the weight-loss strategy. In parents, relative losses of weight (kg) were -6.4% versus -4.0% for dual diet versus calorie restriction (P = .029), -6.9% versus -3.4% for with or without financial incentive (P = .002), and -8.0% versus -4.8% for with or without telemonitoring (P = .033). The weight loss after financial incentive plus dual diet plus telemonitoring was -14.4%. Conclusions. All strategies were effective in adults, in particular when combined. Children improved their BMI-SDS regardless of the strategy.

Figure 1

Distribution of families between the additional weight-reduction strategies. The design permits a comparison of the three strategies and also of different combinations of these strategies.

Figure 2

Dropout rates in groups with different combination of weight-reduction strategies. Parents and children evaluated together.

Figure 3

Weight loss in groups of parents with different combinations of weight-reduction strategies. Statistically significant differences are indicated by *(P < .05), **(P < .01), and ***(P < .001).