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- Title
Parents as change-agents: pilot program shows positive impact on childhood overweight.
- Authors
Homing, Cheryl; Miller-Kovach, Karen; Wilde, Richard; Hartman, Jackie
- Abstract
Objective: Assess a parent-focused intervention for childhood overweight in a community setting. This abstract provides preliminary 46-week data for a family-based pilot utilizing parents as change-agents. Methods: Parents attended 8 weekly sessions led by a coach trained in childhood and adolescent weight issues and supported by local pediatricians. Discussions and written materials focused on increasing wholesome foods and physical activity in the home, parent roles, and behavior modification techniques. Structured diets or exercise regimens were not prescribed. Independent researchers measured children at baseline, 8 weeks and quarterly for one year. Results: Fifty-two children have 46-week results. Nineteen children had a BMI-for-Age <85th %tile at baseline. Of the 33 children at baseline with a BMI-for-Age >85th%tile, the mean age was 10.6 ± 3 years. At baseline, the mean BMI z-score was 2.03 ± 0.46 and 1.90 ± 0.5 at 46 weeks (p=0.003). Twenty-three children with excess weight reduced their BMI z-score, 2 stayed the same and 8 increased. The mean BMI z-score change was 0.12 for those that gained and 0.22 for those that lost. Conclusion: A parent-focused pilot program appears to have a positive influence on children's weight 9 months after intervention.
- Subjects
PARENTS; CHANGE agents; EDUCATIONAL programs; CHILDHOOD obesity; WEIGHT loss
- Publication
FASEB Journal, 2007, Vol 21, Issue 5, pA301
- ISSN
0892-6638
- Publication type
Article