Long-Term Change in BMI for Children with Obesity Treated in Family-Centered Lifestyle Interventions

Abstract: Introduction: Several evaluations of lifestyle interventions for childhood obesity exist; however, follow-up beyond 2 years is necessary to validate the effect. The aim of the present study was to investigate long-term weight development following children participating in one of two pragmatic family-centered lifestyle interventions treating childhood obesity. Methods: This real-life observational study included Danish children 4–17 years of age classified as having obesity. Data from 2010 to 2020, from two community-based family-centered lifestyle interventions (designated hereafter as the Aarhus- and the Randers-intervention) were merged with national registers and routine health check-ups, including height and weight. Adjusted mixed effect models were used to model changes in body mass index (BMI) z score. We performed exploratory analyses of the development in BMI z-score within stratified subgroups of children treated in the interventions before investigating potential effect modifications induced by sex, age, family structure, socioeconomic, or immigration status. Results: With a median follow-up of 2.8 years (interquartile range: 1.3; 4.8), 703 children participated in an intervention (445 the Aarhus-intervention; 258 the Randers-intervention) and 2,337 children were not invited to participate (no-intervention). Children in both interventions experienced a comparable reduction in BMI z-scores during the first 6 months compared to the no-intervention group (Aarhus-intervention: −0.12 SD/year and Randers-intervention: −0.25 SD/year). Only children in the Randers-intervention reduced their BMI z-score throughout follow-up (Aarhus-intervention vs. no-intervention: 0.01 SD/year; confidence interval [CI]: −0.01; 0.04; Randers-intervention vs. no-intervention: −0.05 SD/year; CI: −0.08; −0.02). In subgroup comparisons, combining the two interventions, family income below the median (−0.05 SD/year, CI: −0.02; −0.09), immigrant background (0.04 SD/year, CI: 0.00; 0.07), or receiving intervention less than 1 year (0.04 SD/year, CI: 0.00; 0.08) were associated with a yearly increase in BMI z score. In addition, effect modification analyses did not observe any interaction by sex, age, family structure, socioeconomic, or immigration. Conclusions: Although the more dynamic intervention with longer duration obtained and sustained a minor reduction in BMI z score, the clinical impact may only be modest and still not effective enough to induce a long-term beneficial development in BMI in children with obesity.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Long-Term Change in BMI for Children with Obesity Treated in Family-Centered Lifestyle Interventions ; volume:17 ; number:6 ; year:2024 ; pages:570-581 ; extent:12 ; Obesity facts ; 17, Heft 6 (2024), 570-581 (gesamt 12)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Jørgensen, Rasmus Møller ; Støvring, Henrik ; Østergaard, Jane Nautrup ; Hede, Susanne ; Svendsen, Katrine ; Vestergaard, Esben Thyssen ; Bruun, Jens Meldgaard

Further information

• DOI: 10.1159/000540389
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2501082314080.906260097255
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:32 AM CEST