Amanda W. Harrist
Oklahoma State University, USA
Title: An multi-disciplinary, multi-contextual approach to child obesity treatment: Integrating nutritional sciences, family systems, and peer group approaches
Biography
Biography: Amanda W. Harrist
Abstract
Purpose
The limited long-term effectiveness of child obesity treatment has been well-documented. Currently there is little understanding of what psycho-social (non-exercise and non-food related) variables lead to/exacerbate weight problems. Despite research showing (a) family involvement in treatment increases effectiveness, and (b) obese children are often bullied, few studies target psycho social dynamics in family and peer groups.
Methods
This longitudinal study examined effectiveness of psycho-educational obesity treatment in five conditions: Family Lifestyle (FL; 12 sessions focused on healthy eating/activity; n = 37), Family Lifestyle/Family Dynamics (FL/FD) condition (12 sessions adding healthy
family relationship content; n = 42), a Peer Group condition (FL/PG, FL/FD/PG),
adding a 12-session anti rejection/inclusion curriculum, and a Control condition (n = 59). Twenty-nine schools were randomly assigned to condition. Anthropometric assessments
were completed Pre-treatment (early 1st grade), post-treatment (late 1st grade), and each spring, 2nd-4th grade. Only children who were overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 85 %tile) were
included in analyses. Hierarchical multiple regression examined treatment effects,
controlling for pre-treatment BMI.
Results
Post-treatment, children in the FL intervention had significantly lower BMI-for-age scores than Control children (β = -.06; p = .02). However, by 2nd and 3rd grade, children in the PG condition had lower BMI-for-age (βs = -.06, -.49, ps = .05, .02), and by 4th grade, children in the FL/FD condition had lower BMIs than Control children (β = -.20, p = .03
Conclusion
Results provide evidence for the long-term benefits of attending to family and peer-group psycho social dynamics in the treatment of child obesity.