AIM: Long term evaluations of childhood obesity treatments are needed. We examined changes in weight and cardiometabolic risk one year after children completed individual family or group-based weight management interventions. METHODS: In 2009 to 2010, 6 to 12 year-old children with overweight or obesity from Finnmark and Troms (Norway) were recruited after media coverage and randomised to 24 months of individual family (n = 49) or group intervention (n = 48). Individual family intervention included counselling by a paediatric hospital team and a public health nurse in the local community. Group intervention included meetings with other families and a multidisciplinary hospital team, weekly physical activity sessions and a family camp. The primary outcome body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic risk factors were analysed 12 months after intervention. RESULTS: From baseline to 36 months, children's BMI increased 3.0 kg/m2 in individual family and 2.1 kg/m2 in group intervention (between-group -0.9 kg/m2, p = 0.096). Data were available from 62 children (64%). Between-group differences in C peptide (p = 0.01) were detected in favour of group intervention. Pooled data from both treatment groups showed continued decrease in BMI standard deviation score (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: No between-group difference in BMI was observed 12 months after intervention. Both groups combined showed sustained decrease in BMI standard deviation score.

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