OBJECTIVE: To test in the primary care setting the short- and long-term efficacy of a behavioral intervention that simultaneously targeted an overweight child and parent versus an information control (IC) targeting weight control only in the child. METHODS: Two- to 5-year-old children who had BMI > 85th percentile and an overweight parent (BMI >= 25 kg/m2) were randomized to intervention or IC, both receiving diet and activity education over 12 months (13 sessions) followed by 12-month follow-up (3 sessions). Parents in the intervention group were also targeted for weight control and received behavioral intervention. Pediatricians in 4 practices enrolled their patients with the assistance of embedded recruiters (Practice Enhancement Assistants) who assisted with treatment too. RESULTS: A total of 96 of the 105 children randomized (intervention n = 46; IC n = 50) started the program and had data at baseline. Children in the intervention experienced greater reductions in percent over BMI (group x months; p = 0.002) and z-BMI (group x months; p < 0.001) compared with IC throughout treatment and follow-up. Greater BMI reduction was observed over time for parents in the intervention compared with IC (p < 0.001) throughout treatment and follow-up. Child weight changes were correlated with parent weight changes at 12 and 24 months (r = 0.38 and 0.26; p < 0.001 and p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Concurrently targeting preschool-aged overweight and obese youth and their parents in primary care with behavioral intervention results in greater decreases in child percent over BMI, z-BMI, and parent BMI compared with IC. The difference between intervention and IC persists after 12 months of follow-up.
Reproduced with permission from Pediatrics. Copyright by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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