Ashleigh A Pona1,2, Meredith L Dreyer Gillette1,3, Cathleen Odar Stough4, Janelle K Gerling1,3, Brooke R Sweeney1,3. 1. 1 Department of Pediatrics, Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition , Kansas City, MO. 2. 2 Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City , Kansas City, MO. 3. 3 Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO. 4. 4 Department of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, OH.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Youth with disabilities are at increased risk for obesity compared with their typically developing peers and face unique barriers to healthy lifestyles. A limited number of weight management programs have been specifically tailored to accommodate youth with disabilities, and outcomes research in this population is scarce. We investigated the effectiveness of a specialized multidisciplinary weight management program for children with disabilities. METHODS: Youth (N = 115) ages 2-18 years (mean age = 10.46) and their families receiving care in the Special Needs Weight Management Clinic (SNWMC) were followed over a period of 12 months. Child height and weight were measured by trained clinicians and used to calculate Body Mass Index z-scores (BMIz). A two-level multilevel model was estimated with repeated measurements of BMIz nested within patients. RESULTS: Significant BMIz reductions of 0.02 per month were observed over the course of treatment when controlling for child age and baseline BMIz. A significant interaction between child age and time revealed that younger (vs. older) children exhibited greater decreases in BMIz over the course of treatment. Sex, ethnicity, disability diagnosis, and insurance moderated change in BMIz over the course of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes of the SNWMC revealed significant decreases in BMIz with <5 sessions on average over 12 months and indicated the increased efficacy of early intervention in youth with disabilities. Future research should continue to modify interventions for families with adolescent children with disabilities as well as investigate additional variables that may impact success in treatment.
BACKGROUND: Youth with disabilities are at increased risk for obesity compared with their typically developing peers and face unique barriers to healthy lifestyles. A limited number of weight management programs have been specifically tailored to accommodate youth with disabilities, and outcomes research in this population is scarce. We investigated the effectiveness of a specialized multidisciplinary weight management program for children with disabilities. METHODS: Youth (N = 115) ages 2-18 years (mean age = 10.46) and their families receiving care in the Special Needs Weight Management Clinic (SNWMC) were followed over a period of 12 months. Child height and weight were measured by trained clinicians and used to calculate Body Mass Index z-scores (BMIz). A two-level multilevel model was estimated with repeated measurements of BMIz nested within patients. RESULTS: Significant BMIz reductions of 0.02 per month were observed over the course of treatment when controlling for child age and baseline BMIz. A significant interaction between child age and time revealed that younger (vs. older) children exhibited greater decreases in BMIz over the course of treatment. Sex, ethnicity, disability diagnosis, and insurance moderated change in BMIz over the course of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes of the SNWMC revealed significant decreases in BMIz with <5 sessions on average over 12 months and indicated the increased efficacy of early intervention in youth with disabilities. Future research should continue to modify interventions for families with adolescent children with disabilities as well as investigate additional variables that may impact success in treatment.
Entities:
Keywords:
Down syndrome; autism spectrum disorders; childhood obesity; intervention
Authors: Linda G Bandini; Misha Eliasziw; Gretchen A Dittrich; Carol Curtin; Melissa Maslin; Aviva Must; Kerri N Boutelle; Richard K Fleming Journal: Pediatr Obes Date: 2021-06-01 Impact factor: 3.910
Authors: Voytek Slowik; Heather Wasserkrug; Ryan T Fischer; Mark Connelly; Amanda D Deacy; Sarah Hampl; James F Daniel Journal: Clin Transl Sci Date: 2020-11-22 Impact factor: 4.689