An 8-year follow-up of treated obese children: Children’s, process and parental predictors of successful outcome

Objective

This study presents an 8-year outcome of overweight children who were treated in an outpatient program and aims to identify child and familial variables associated with long-term weight regulation.

Methods

A total of 90 children participated with a mean age of 10.1 years ± 2.6 at baseline and a mean adjusted BMI (actual BMI/50th percentile of BMI for age and gender × 100) of 153.1 ± 20.7% at baseline participated in the 8-year follow-up (retrieval rate 71%; response rate 89%). Children’s and parental factors, administered at baseline and at follow-up were related to the success of the treatment.

Results

The children obtained a mean reduction of 8% in adjusted BMI at the 8-year follow-up. A total of 59 children (66%) were successful in obtaining weight control (i.e. maintaining their original % adjusted BMI); 40% even decreased their adjusted BMI by 10% or more. Analyses revealed that the child’s age, the degree of overweight at baseline and the child’s global self-worth were positive predictors of long-term weight loss 8 years after treatment, whereas psychopathology in the mother was a negative predictor. The total explained variance was R² = 35%.

Discussion

Treatment of childhood obesity by means of a multidisciplinary cognitive-behavioural program enables the majority of children to control their weight in the long term. In order to predict the success of the treatment, it is recommended to take into account the child’s age, its degree of overweight, its global self-worth and the occurrence of maternal psychopathology.