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. 2016 Sep 19:3:2333794X16669014.
doi: 10.1177/2333794X16669014. eCollection 2016.

Family Intervention for Obese/Overweight Children Using Portion Control Strategy (FOCUS) for Weight Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Josephine Ho  1 , Sue D Pedersen  2 , Heidi Virtanen  3 , Alberto Nettel-Aguirre  1 , Carol Huang  1
Affiliations

Family Intervention for Obese/Overweight Children Using Portion Control Strategy (FOCUS) for Weight Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Josephine Ho et al. Glob Pediatr Health. .

Abstract

Nutritional counseling for children with obesity is an important component of management. This randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare change in body mass index (BMI) z score after 6 months. Children 8 to 16 years with a BMI greater than the 85th percentile were randomized to standard of care nutrition counseling versus intervention with standard nutrition counseling including portion control tool training for the family. Measures were completed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Fifty-one children were randomized to control and 48 to intervention. Mean age was 11 years (SD = 2.2). Mean BMI z score was 2.7 (SD = 0.4). Forty-five percent were male (n = 45). Follow-up at 6 months was 73.7% (73/99). Although no differences were seen between the groups, there was a significant decrease in BMI z score between baseline and 6 months within each group.

Keywords: management; nutrition; obesity; pediatric; portion size.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Diagram of study protocol. Measurements included height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Blood tests were done fasting and included the following: total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, insulin, glucose, total adiponectin, high-molecular-weight adiponectin, and alanine aminotransferase. A 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test was also completed.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Diagram of patients included in the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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