RT Journal
A1 Wrotniak BH, Epstein LH, Paluch RA, Roemmich JN
T1 PArent weight change as a predictor of child weight change in family-based behavioral obesity treatment
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2004
FD April 1
VO 158
IS 4
SP 342
OP 347
DO 10.1001/archpedi.158.4.342
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.158.4.342
AB Background 
    Family-based behavioral weight control treatment involves the parent in the modification of child and parent eating and activity change.Objective 
    To assess if parent standardized body mass index (z-BMI) change predicts child z-BMI change.Design 
    Secondary data analysis based on parent and child z-BMI changes from 3 family-based, randomized, controlled weight control studies. Hierarchical regression models tested whether parent z-BMI change increased prediction of child z-BMI change through treatment and 24-month follow-up beyond other factors that influence child weight change, such as child age, sex, socioeconomic status, and baseline child and parent z-BMI. Differences in child z-BMI change as a function of quartiles of parental z-BMI change were tested using an analysis of covariance.Setting 
    Pediatric obesity research clinic.Participants 
    Obese 8- to 12-year-old children and their parents from 142 families who participated in family-based weight control programs.Main Outcome Measures 
    Child and parent z-BMI changes over time.Results 
    Parent z-BMI change significantly predicted child z-BMI change for the 0- to 6-month (P<.001) and 0- to 24-month (P <.009) time points. In hierarchical regression models, parent z-BMI change was a significant incremental predictor of child z-BMI change at 6 and 24 months, with the additional r2 ranging from 11.6% at 6 months (P <.001) to 3.8% at 24 months (P = .02). Parents in the highest quartile of z-BMI change had children with significantly greater z-BMI change than that of children with parents in the other quartiles (P = .01).Conclusion 
    Parent z-BMI change is an independent predictor of obese child z-BMI change in family-based behavioral treatment, and youth benefit the most from parents who lose the most weight in family-based behavioral treatments.