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Family involvement in the treatment of childhood obesity: the Copenhagen approach

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Abstract

Introduction

The objective of this study was to assess the impacts of a family-based childhood obesity treatment on anthropometry and predictors of dropout and successful weight loss.

Materials and methods

The 18-month treatment consisted of a intensive period (IP) including physical exercise, nutritional guidance, family psychotherapy, child group sessions and a 1-year follow-up (FU).

Results

One hundred children (10–12 years old, >140% of median weight-for-height) participated. The 81 children completing the IP decreased significantly from 2.9 to 2.6 body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score (SDS) units (p < 0.001). Furthermore, mean body fat percentage decreased significantly from 33.7 to 31.9 during IP. The 49 children completing the FU had a further decrease of 0.2 BMI SDS units (p = 0.003). Weight loss was less in children from immigrant families. Drop-out was higher if the mother had limited education and in immigrant families.

Conclusions

This treatment with a psychological approach is feasible and results in significant weight loss during the programme. Future research should focus on how to improve the results of families with limited education and immigrants with non-European origin.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the multidisciplinary team, to Pernille Kæstel for help with the statistical analysis, and to the Egmont Foundation, the Health Insurance Foundation, the National Board of Health and the other private foundations that support the Copenhagen Project.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interest nor a financial relationship with the organization that sponsored the research.

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Correspondence to H. N. Grønbæk.

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Grønbæk, H.N., Madsen, S.A. & Michaelsen, K.F. Family involvement in the treatment of childhood obesity: the Copenhagen approach. Eur J Pediatr 168, 1437–1447 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-009-0944-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-009-0944-x

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