Skip to main content
Quality & Safety in Health Care logoLink to Quality & Safety in Health Care
. 2003 Feb;12(1):65–74. doi: 10.1136/qhc.12.1.65

The prevention and treatment of childhood obesity

P Wilson 1, S O'Meara 1, C Summerbell 1, S Kelly 1
PMCID: PMC1743659  PMID: 12571349

Abstract



 The effectiveness of interventions used in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity published in a recent issue of Effective Heath Care is reviewed.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (174.8 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Braet C., Van Winckel M., Van Leeuwen K. Follow-up results of different treatment programs for obese children. Acta Paediatr. 1997 Apr;86(4):397–402. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1997.tb09030.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brownell K. D., Kelman J. H., Stunkard A. J. Treatment of obese children with and without their mothers: changes in weight and blood pressure. Pediatrics. 1983 Apr;71(4):515–523. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cole T. J., Bellizzi M. C., Flegal K. M., Dietz W. H. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ. 2000 May 6;320(7244):1240–1243. doi: 10.1136/bmj.320.7244.1240. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Davison K. K., Birch L. L. Weight status, parent reaction, and self-concept in five-year-old girls. Pediatrics. 2001 Jan;107(1):46–53. doi: 10.1542/peds.107.1.46. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. DeWolfe J. A., Jack E. Weight control in adolescent girls: a comparison of the effectiveness of three approaches to follow-up. J Sch Health. 1984 Oct;54(9):347–349. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1984.tb09747.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Drake A. J., Smith A., Betts P. R., Crowne E. C., Shield J. P. H. Type 2 diabetes in obese white children. Arch Dis Child. 2002 Mar;86(3):207–208. doi: 10.1136/adc.86.3.207. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Duffy G., Spence S. H. The effectiveness of cognitive self-management as an adjunct to a behavioural intervention for childhood obesity: a research note. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1993 Sep;34(6):1043–1050. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1993.tb01107.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Epstein L. H., Gordy C. C., Raynor H. A., Beddome M., Kilanowski C. K., Paluch R. Increasing fruit and vegetable intake and decreasing fat and sugar intake in families at risk for childhood obesity. Obes Res. 2001 Mar;9(3):171–178. doi: 10.1038/oby.2001.18. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Epstein L. H., McKenzie S. J., Valoski A., Klein K. R., Wing R. R. Effects of mastery criteria and contingent reinforcement for family-based child weight control. Addict Behav. 1994 Mar-Apr;19(2):135–145. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(94)90038-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Epstein L. H., Paluch R. A., Gordy C. C., Dorn J. Decreasing sedentary behaviors in treating pediatric obesity. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2000 Mar;154(3):220–226. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.154.3.220. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Epstein L. H., Paluch R. A., Gordy C. C., Saelens B. E., Ernst M. M. Problem solving in the treatment of childhood obesity. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2000 Aug;68(4):717–721. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Epstein L. H., Valoski A. M., Vara L. S., McCurley J., Wisniewski L., Kalarchian M. A., Klein K. R., Shrager L. R. Effects of decreasing sedentary behavior and increasing activity on weight change in obese children. Health Psychol. 1995 Mar;14(2):109–115. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.14.2.109. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Epstein L. H., Valoski A., Wing R. R., McCurley J. Ten-year outcomes of behavioral family-based treatment for childhood obesity. Health Psychol. 1994 Sep;13(5):373–383. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.13.5.373. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Epstein L. H., Wing R. R., Koeske R., Valoski A. Effects of diet plus exercise on weight change in parents and children. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1984 Jun;52(3):429–437. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.52.3.429. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Epstein L. H., Wing R. R., Penner B. C., Kress M. J. Effect of diet and controlled exercise on weight loss in obese children. J Pediatr. 1985 Sep;107(3):358–361. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(85)80506-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Flodmark C. E., Ohlsson T., Rydén O., Sveger T. Prevention of progression to severe obesity in a group of obese schoolchildren treated with family therapy. Pediatrics. 1993 May;91(5):880–884. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Flores R. Dance for health: improving fitness in African American and Hispanic adolescents. Public Health Rep. 1995 Mar-Apr;110(2):189–193. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Freedman D. S., Dietz W. H., Srinivasan S. R., Berenson G. S. The relation of overweight to cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics. 1999 Jun;103(6 Pt 1):1175–1182. doi: 10.1542/peds.103.6.1175. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Freemark M., Bursey D. The effects of metformin on body mass index and glucose tolerance in obese adolescents with fasting hyperinsulinemia and a family history of type 2 diabetes. Pediatrics. 2001 Apr;107(4):E55–E55. doi: 10.1542/peds.107.4.e55. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Golan M., Weizman A., Apter A., Fainaru M. Parents as the exclusive agents of change in the treatment of childhood obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998 Jun;67(6):1130–1135. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/67.6.1130. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Goldfield G. S., Epstein L. H., Kilanowski C. K., Paluch R. A., Kogut-Bossler B. Cost-effectiveness of group and mixed family-based treatment for childhood obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001 Dec;25(12):1843–1849. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801838. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Gortmaker S. L., Cheung L. W., Peterson K. E., Chomitz G., Cradle J. H., Dart H., Fox M. K., Bullock R. B., Sobol A. M., Colditz G. Impact of a school-based interdisciplinary intervention on diet and physical activity among urban primary school children: eat well and keep moving. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999 Sep;153(9):975–983. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.153.9.975. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Graves T., Meyers A. W., Clark L. An evaluation of parental problem-solving training in the behavioral treatment of childhood obesity. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1988 Apr;56(2):246–250. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.56.2.246. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Israel A. C., Guile C. A., Baker J. E., Silverman W. K. An evaluation of enhanced self-regulation training in the treatment of childhood obesity. J Pediatr Psychol. 1994 Dec;19(6):737–749. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/19.6.737. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Johnson W. G., Hinkle L. K., Carr R. E., Anderson D. A., Lemmon C. R., Engler L. B., Bergeron K. C. Dietary and exercise interventions for juvenile obesity: long-term effect of behavioral and public health models. Obes Res. 1997 May;5(3):257–261. doi: 10.1002/j.1550-8528.1997.tb00300.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Mellin L. M., Slinkard L. A., Irwin C. E., Jr Adolescent obesity intervention: validation of the SHAPEDOWN program. J Am Diet Assoc. 1987 Mar;87(3):333–338. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Mo-suwan L., Pongprapai S., Junjana C., Puetpaiboon A. Effects of a controlled trial of a school-based exercise program on the obesity indexes of preschool children. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998 Nov;68(5):1006–1011. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/68.5.1006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Müller M. J., Asbeck I., Mast M., Langnäse K., Grund A. Prevention of obesity--more than an intention. Concept and first results of the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS). Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001 May;25 (Suppl 1):S66–S74. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801703. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Prentice A. M., Jebb S. A. Obesity in Britain: gluttony or sloth? BMJ. 1995 Aug 12;311(7002):437–439. doi: 10.1136/bmj.311.7002.437. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Reilly J. J., Dorosty A. R., Emmett P. M. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in British children: cohort study. BMJ. 1999 Oct 16;319(7216):1039–1039. doi: 10.1136/bmj.319.7216.1039. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Reilly J. J., Dorosty A. R. Epidemic of obesity in UK children. Lancet. 1999 Nov 27;354(9193):1874–1875. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(99)04555-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Robinson T. N. Reducing children's television viewing to prevent obesity: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1999 Oct 27;282(16):1561–1567. doi: 10.1001/jama.282.16.1561. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Rudolf M. C., Sahota P., Barth J. H., Walker J. Increasing prevalence of obesity in primary school children: cohort study. BMJ. 2001 May 5;322(7294):1094–1095. doi: 10.1136/bmj.322.7294.1094. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Sahota P., Rudolf M. C., Dixey R., Hill A. J., Barth J. H., Cade J. Randomised controlled trial of primary school based intervention to reduce risk factors for obesity. BMJ. 2001 Nov 3;323(7320):1029–1032. doi: 10.1136/bmj.323.7320.1029. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Sallis J. F., McKenzie T. L., Alcaraz J. E., Kolody B., Hovell M. F., Nader P. R. Project SPARK. Effects of physical education on adiposity in children. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1993 Oct 29;699:127–136. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1993.tb18844.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Stolley M. R., Fitzgibbon M. L. Effects of an obesity prevention program on the eating behavior of African American mothers and daughters. Health Educ Behav. 1997 Apr;24(2):152–164. doi: 10.1177/109019819702400204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Wadden T. A., Stunkard A. J., Rich L., Rubin C. J., Sweidel G., McKinney S. Obesity in black adolescent girls: a controlled clinical trial of treatment by diet, behavior modification, and parental support. Pediatrics. 1990 Mar;85(3):345–352. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Warschburger P., Fromme C., Petermann F., Wojtalla N., Oepen J. Conceptualisation and evaluation of a cognitive-behavioural training programme for children and adolescents with obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001 May;25 (Suppl 1):S93–S95. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801708. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Quality & safety in health care are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES