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The Role of Early and Later Response on Overall Outcomes in School‐Based Obesity Intervention
Author(s) -
Arlinghaus Katherine R.,
O’Connor Daniel P.,
Ledoux Tracey A.,
Hughes Sheryl O.,
Johnston Craig A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.23040
Subject(s) - medicine , obesity , percentile , psychological intervention , intervention (counseling) , weight change , body mass index , demography , weight loss , gerontology , physical therapy , statistics , mathematics , psychiatry , sociology
Objective Early response to obesity intervention consistently predicts long‐term BMI reductions. However, little is known about how changes in weight at other times in an intervention may impact long‐term outcomes. This study examined the relationship between weight‐related changes that occurred early and later during an intervention and the association between these changes with overall outcomes. Methods A secondary analysis of a school‐based obesity intervention with replicated efficacy among Hispanic middle school students was conducted ( n = 174). Linear regression models were developed in which first and second semester changes in BMI represented as a percentage of the 95th BMI percentile (%BMIp95) were separately used to predict overall %BMIp95 outcomes. First semester changes in %BMIp95 were used to predict subsequent %BMIp95 change (i.e., second semester). Results Changes in %BMIp95 during both the first and second semesters were independently associated with overall changes from baseline (e.g., at 24 months: first semester, β = 0.59, P < 0.01; second semester, β = 1.02, P < 0.001). First semester %BMIp95 change was not associated with second semester change (β = −0.07, P = 0.32). Conclusions Change at any point during the intervention was predictive of overall weight outcomes. Additional research is needed to understand patterns of weight changes throughout interventions to better understand long‐term outcomes.