Parents as Agents of Change in Managing Pediatric Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy versus Psychoeducation Interventions.

Obesity interventions for parents of children with obesity can improve children's weight and health. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated whether a parent-based intervention based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles was superior to a parent-based intervention based on a psychoeducation program (PEP) in improving children's obesity. This study was a pragmatic, two-armed, parallel, superiority RCT.

Using Intervention Mapping to develop the Parents as Agents of Change (PAC) intervention for managing pediatric obesity.

Background: Pediatric obesity has become increasingly prevalent over recent decades. In view of the psychosocial and physical health risks, and the high likelihood that children with obesity will grow to become adults with obesity, there is a clear need to develop evidence-based interventions that can be delivered in the health care system to optimize the health and well-being of children with obesity and their families. The aim of this paper is to describe the development, implementation, and planned evaluation of a parent-based weight management intervention designed for parents of 8-12 year olds with obesity.

Predictors of Short- and Long-Term Attrition From the Parents as Agents of Change Randomized Controlled Trial for Managing Pediatric Obesity.

Introduction: Attrition in pediatric weight management is a substantial problem. This study examined factors associated with short- and long-term attrition from a lifestyle and behavioral intervention for parents of children with overweight or obesity.

Method: Fifty-two families with children ages 6 to 12 years old and body mass index at or above the 85th percentile participated in a randomized controlled trial focused on parents, comparing parent-based cognitive behavioral therapy with parent-based psychoeducation for pediatric weight management.

Families' Perceptions of and Experiences Related to a Pediatric Weight Management Intervention: A Qualitative Study.

Objective: To examine parents' and children's perceptions of and experiences related to a Parents as Agents of Change (PAC) intervention for managing pediatric obesity.

Methods: Ten families were recruited from a PAC intervention. Participants were interviewed before (10 adults and 9 children), during (9 adults and 8 children), and after (8 adults) the intervention.

Lifestyle Behaviors of Parents of Children in Pediatric Weight Management: Are They Meeting Recommendations?

Objective: Our objective was to examine the lifestyle behaviors of parents of children in pediatric weight management.

Methods: Parents were recruited upon presentation of their children (body mass index [BMI] ≥85th percentile) to a pediatric weight management clinic. Parents' demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle habit data were collected by self-report.

The CANadian Pediatric Weight management Registry (CANPWR): study protocol.

Background: Over recent decades, the prevalence of pediatric obesity has increased markedly in developed and developing countries, and the impact of obesity on health throughout the lifespan has led to urgent calls for action. Family-based weight management interventions that emphasize healthy lifestyle changes can lead to modest improvements in weight status of children with obesity. However, these interventions are generally short in duration, reported in the context of randomized controlled trials and there are few reports of outcomes of these treatment approaches in the clinical setting.

Characterizing severe obesity in children and youth referred for weight management.

Background: Severe obesity (SO) in pediatrics has become increasing prevalent in recent decades.The objective of our study was to examine differences in demographic, anthropometric, cardiometabolic, and lifestyle variables in children and youth with SO versus their less overweight/obese (OW/OB) peers.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review of 6-19 year old participants enrolled in an outpatient pediatric weight management clinic was conducted.

Predictors of metabolically healthy obesity in children.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) in children and examine the demographic, adiposity, and lifestyle predictors of MHO status.

Research Design And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 8-17 year olds with a BMI ≥85th percentile who were enrolled in a multidisciplinary pediatric weight management clinic from 2005-2010. Demographic, anthropometric, lifestyle, and cardiometabolic data were retrieved by retrospective medical record review.

Modest treatment effects and high program attrition: The impact of interdisciplinary, individualized care for managing paediatric obesity.

Background: There is an urgent need to identify effective weight management interventions in real-world, clinical settings to improve the health of children with obesity.

Objectives: To determine the impact of individualized, interdisciplinary care on the weight status of children with obesity; to assess the relationship between clinical interactions and change in participants' weight status; and to document the degree of program attrition.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review of clinical and administrative data from a paediatric weight management clinic in Edmonton, Alberta, was performed, which included data from a group of five- to 18-year-olds (body mass index [BMI] ≥85th percentile) collected from 2008 to 2012.

Parents as agents of change (PAC) in pediatric weight management: the protocol for the PAC randomized clinical trial.

Background: There is an urgent need to develop and evaluate weight management interventions to address childhood obesity. Recent research suggests that interventions designed for parents exclusively, which have been named parents as agents of change (PAC) approaches, have yielded positive outcomes for managing pediatric obesity. To date, no research has combined a PAC intervention approach with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to examine whether these combined elements enhance intervention effectiveness.

Referrals for pediatric weight management: the importance of proximity.

Background: Limited access to weight management care can have a negative impact on the health and well-being of obese children and youth. Our objectives were to describe the characteristics of clients referred to a pediatric weight management centre and explore potential differences according to proximity.

Methods: All demographic and anthropometric data were abstracted from standardized, one-page referral forms, which were received by a pediatric weight management centre in Edmonton, AB (Canada) between April, 2005 and April, 2009.

Pediatric weight management programs in Canada: where, what and how?

Our purpose was to conduct a national environmental scan of pediatric weight management programs in Canada. Data were entered by program representatives regarding the history, structure, and function of their weight management programs using an online survey that our team developed in partnership with the Canadian Obesity Network ( www.obesitynetwork.