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Effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary family-based programme for treating childhood obesity (The Family Project)

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 903–909 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

To determine if a multi-component family focused education package is more effective than a waiting list control group in treating overweight and obese children.

Subjects/Methods:

A 2-year randomised controlled trial; 65 overweight and obese children aged 6–14 years were allocated to active intervention in either the first or second year, with body composition monitoring alone in the control period. Anthropometric measurements were undertaken at six monthly intervals and a 7-day food and activity diary were issued.

Results:

Over the 2 years of the study body mass index (BMI) SDS (z score) fell significantly in the intervention/control (I/C) group, but not in the control/intervention (C/I) group. The difference between groups was 0.3, which was borderline significant (95% confidence interval (95% CI) −0.62 to 0.02, P=0.06) before adjusting for potential confounding factors. Thirty-three percent of the I/C group and 12% of the C/I group achieved the target reduction of 0.5 BMI SDS. The I/C group had a significantly greater reduction in the percentage with a BMI above the 99.6th centile at 24 months (P=0.04) and gained 5.7 kg less over the time of the study. There were no significant differences between groups for mean percentage attendance at physical activity sessions (I/C group=24.1%, 95% CI, 15.4–32.9; C/I group=31.7%, 95% CI, 22.4–41.1, P=0.229).

Conclusions:

Children given active intervention followed by body composition monitoring alone reduced their BMI SDS, and fewer children were classified as grossly overweight by the end of the study. If these findings are true, there are important implications for the provision of services managing overweight in the community.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Wessex Medical Research and The Public Health Department in States of Jersey for funding this project and all the families who have taken part. We would also like to thank Andrew Heaven, Jenny O’Brien, Lynn Minchinton-Gilley, Daphne Glaun, Anna Skinner, Marcia Smith, Sharon Dundon, Eugene Ellis, Dave De Abreu, Craig Gascoyne, Stuart Gilmour, Jodie Botterill, Michele Horwood, Dave Black and Simon Alberici for all their hard work. We would also like to thank the Department of Education, Sports and Culture, States of Jersey for funding all the activities; Channel Islands Coop for funding food for all the healthy eating workshops; and Jersey Bowl for sponsoring the Family Project Xmas party.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Jersey, Channel Islands, UK

    D F Coppins & J L Fa

  2. Public Health Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK

    B M Margetts

  3. Department of Education, Sport and Culture, Educational Psychology Service, Professional Development Centre, Jersey, Channel Islands, UK

    M Brown

  4. Department of Education, Sport and Culture, Fort Regent Leisure Centre, Jersey, Channel Islands, UK

    F Garrett

  5. Health Promotion Department, Le Bas Centre, Jersey, Channel Islands, UK

    S Huelin

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  1. D F Coppins
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  2. B M Margetts
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Correspondence to D F Coppins.

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Coppins, D., Margetts, B., Fa, J. et al. Effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary family-based programme for treating childhood obesity (The Family Project). Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 903–909 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.43

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