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. 2015 Mar-Apr;15(2):197-203.
doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2014.11.004.

Family-based obesity treatment in children with disabilities

Callie L Brown  1 , Megan B Irby  2 , Timothy T Houle  3 , Joseph A Skelton  4
Affiliations

Family-based obesity treatment in children with disabilities

Callie L Brown et al. Acad Pediatr. 2015 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the relative effectiveness of an interdisciplinary, family-centered, tertiary-care pediatric weight management program for the treatment of patients with and without cognitive disabilities (CD).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the clinical database of a tertiary-care pediatric weight management clinic (n = 453), extracting data from electronic health records including longitudinal change in weight status (body mass index [BMI] z-score) and frequency of attrition from treatment. Upon review of medical records, children enrolled in the treatment program were classified as having no CD (n = 342) or CD (n = 111).

Results: At baseline, there were no between-group differences in BMI or BMI z-score. After 4 months of treatment, 66% (299) of patients remained enrolled, and complete case data were available for 219 children in final analyses. There were no statistically significant differences in attrition between the 2 groups (no CD vs CD). Mean change in BMI z-score across all groups was -0.03 ± 0.13 (P < .001). Change in BMI z-score was significantly greater among patients with CD (-0.07 ± 0.15) compared to those without CD (-0.03 ± 0.12) (difference 0.04, 95% confidence interval 0.005-0.08, P = .029). These change estimates were observed after adjusting for processes potentially associated with attrition.

Conclusions: Children with CD treated in an interdisciplinary, family-centered obesity clinic had similar or better outcomes compared to peers without CD. This success may be attributable to the patient-centered nature of this behavioral weight management program, which focused on leveraging the unique strengths and capabilities of each individual patient and family.

Keywords: childhood; disabilities; obesity; treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Attrition of Study Population at Each Visit
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References

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