Outcomes from an urban pediatric obesity program targeting minority youth: the Healthy Hawks program.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of a family-based behavioral group treatment program with a group of urban, minority, low-income families.
METHODS: Two hundred and ten families enrolled in a 12-week family-based behavioral group treatment program for pediatric obesity. The program was offered in English and in Spanish and targeted the enrollment of low-income highly diverse youth and families. Primary outcome measures included child BMI z-score (zBMI), maternal BMI, 3-day diet record, and accelerometer.
RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of enrolled families completed the 12-week program. Significant 12-week outcomes were achieved for child zBMI (p<0.001) and for maternal BMI (p<0.001), as well as for child kcals (p<0.001), sugar-sweetened beverages (p=0.017), and red foods (p<0.001). Only change in child zBMI remained significant at 1 year (p<0.05). Physical activity outcomes were not significant and not in the expected direction. There were no differences in outcome by race/ethnicity, but by age, younger children had higher zBMI at baseline and were also more likely to decrease zBMI during the intervention.
CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to enroll and maintain urban, minority, low-income families in a family-based behavioral group treatment program for pediatric obesity. Outcome data indicate that these families achieve significant outcomes on zBMI, and that children who remain available for assessment maintain this at 1 year, which is an improvement over previous research using other intervention methodologies with this population.