Family-Centered Child Obesity Treatment

Is family-based behavioral treatment (FBT) with enhanced standard of care (ESOC) more effective than ESOC alone for reducing childhood obesity? In this multicenter pragmatic randomized clinical trial that randomized 730 children aged 6 to 15 years across 41 primary care practices, ESOC+FBT significantly reduced percent median BMI compared with ESOC alone. Nearly half of the children receiving ESOC+FBT achieved clinically meaningful weight reduction, and both groups experienced reductions in percent median BMI. Study results show that FBT delivered with ESOC in primary care improved child weight outcomes compared with ESOC alone and was feasible across a geographically and socioeconomically diverse population.

Corresponding Author: To interview Amanda E Staiano, PhD, email Abeeha Shamshad-Garland (abeeha@wustl.edu).

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