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Two‐year treatment programme showed that younger age and initial weight loss predicted better results in overweight and obese children aged 2‐16 years
Author(s) -
Dalby Sina,
Vahlkvist Signe,
Østergaard Inge,
Park Jørgensen Joan,
Bogh Juhl Claus
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.15145
Subject(s) - medicine , overweight , body mass index , obesity , weight loss , pediatrics , cohort , childhood obesity , standard score , cohort study , demography , machine learning , sociology , computer science
Aim We investigated an outpatient programme that followed the Danish Paediatric Society's recommended multidisciplinary approach to treating overweight and obesity. Methods Our cohort comprised 179 participants (55.3% girls) treated from April 2011 until March 2016 at the Hospital of Southwest Jutland, Esbjerg, Denmark. The participant's age ranged from 2.3 to 16.6 years. The body mass index‐standard deviation score was registered at inclusion and after three, 12 and 24 months. Results The girls were more obese than the boys at inclusion, and the mean reduction in the body mass index‐standard deviation score was 0.3 units during the study. Half of the participants achieved a reduction in body mass index‐standard deviation score of at least 0.25 units, and the frequency of obesity and severe obesity decreased from 69.3% to 47.5%. Predictors of weight loss were younger age and weight loss during the first 3 months. More than half (53.1%) completed the programme, and they were more likely to be younger and male. Conclusion The two‐year programme reduced the body mass index‐standard deviation score and the frequency of obesity. Younger age and early weight loss predicted success and younger age, and male sex predicted completion rates.