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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Oct;39(9):1001-12.
doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsu059. Epub 2014 Jul 30.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of a behavioral family-based intervention with and without home visits to decrease obesity in preschoolers

Lori J Stark  1 , Lisa M Clifford  2 , Elizabeth K Towner  2 , Stephanie S Filigno  2 , Cindy Zion  2 , Christopher Bolling  2 , Joseph Rausch  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A pilot randomized controlled trial of a behavioral family-based intervention with and without home visits to decrease obesity in preschoolers

Lori J Stark et al. J Pediatr Psychol. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: Tested two family-based behavioral treatments for obesity in preschool children, one meeting the Expert Committee guidelines for Stage 3 obesity intervention criteria (LAUNCH-clinic) and one exceeding Stage 3 (LAUNCH with home visit [LAUNCH-HV]), compared with a Stage 1 intervention, pediatrician counseling (PC).

Methods: In all, 42 children aged 2-5 years with a body mass index (BMI) percentile of ≥95th were randomized. A total of 33 met intent-to-treat criteria. Assessments were conducted at baseline, Month 6 (posttreatment), and Month 12 (6-month follow-up).

Results: LAUNCH-HV demonstrated a significantly greater decrease on the primary outcome of change in BMI z-score (BMIz) pre- to posttreatment compared with PC (p = .007), whereas LAUNCH-clinic was not significantly different from PC (p = .08). Similar results were found for secondary outcomes.

Conclusions: LAUNCH-HV, but not LAUNCH-clinic, significantly reduced BMIz compared with PC by posttreatment, indicating the need for intensive behavioral intervention, including home visitation, to address weight management in obese preschool children.

Keywords: home visits; obesity; preschoolers; treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
CONSORT flow diagram of participants to LAUNCH with home visits, LAUNCH-clinic, and pediatrician counseling at all time points.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Change in body mass index z-score for all children in LAUNCH with home visits, LAUNCH-clinic, and pediatrician counseling from baseline to Month 6 (posttreatment) and Month 12 (6-month follow-up).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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