Table 2.
Selected article intervention description and main results.
| Study | Design | Objective | Outcomes | Comparison groups (N) | Intervention description | Training MI | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwartz et al., 2007 | NRS | To implement an office-based obesity prevention program using MI. |
Change in the BMI for age percentile. | (1) Control (21) (2) Minimal intervention (40) (3) Intensive intervention (30) |
Minimal intervention group received one MI session for 10–15 min. Intensive intervention group received 2 MI sessions, one of 10–15 min duration and of 45–50 min long. | 2 days session before the intervention. Audiotapes for clinical supervision with telephone feedback and coaching. | Decrease of BMI percentiles in the control (0.6), minimal (1.9), and intensive (2.6) groups. BMI differences between the three groups were non-significant (p = 0.85). |
| Taveras et al., 2011 | RCT | To examine the effectiveness of a primary care-based obesity intervention. | Change in BMI and obesity-related behaviors. | (1) usual care (204) (2) intervention (271) |
Use MI for four sessions in person for 25 min and three telephone calls for 15 min. | Pediatric nurse practitioners trained in MI. | Intervention participants had a smaller, non-significant increase in BMI (-0.21 kg/m2; p = 0.15), greater decreases in TV viewing (-0.36 h/day; p = 0.01), had slightly greater decreases in fast food (-0.16 servings/week; p = 0.07) and sugar sweetened beverages (-0.22 servings/day; p = 0.15). Significant effects observed on BMI among females (-0.38 kg/m2; p = 0.03) and among participants in households with annual incomes $50,000 or less (-0.93 kg/m2; p = 0.01). |
| Davoli et al., 2013 | RCT | To evaluate the effect of family pediatrician–led motivational interviews (MIs) on BMI of overweight children. |
BMI score variation, percentage of positive changes in parent-reported dietary behaviors and in physical activity. |
(1) usual care (185) (2) intervention (187) |
Five MI meetings based on the Transtheoretical model. | 20-h training course on MI conducted by specialized psychologists. |
There was a significant difference in BMI between intervention and control groups (difference = -0.30, p = 0.007). MI had effect in children whose mother had a high educational level (-1.04 kg/m2; p = 0.008) and in girl (Transtheoretical0.51 kg/m2;
p = 0.072). Positive changes in parent-reported lifestyle behaviors occurred more frequently in the MI group. |
| Small et al., 2013 | RCT | To determine the feasibility and preliminary effects of a theoretically based, primary care intervention on the physical outcomes. |
BMI percentile, waist circumferences, waist by height ratio. | (1) control group (33) (2) treatment (34) |
Four brief MI sessions. | Not specified. | In treatment group reduced waist circumference and waist-by-height ratio immediately after the intervention that persisted for 3 (f = 0.33) and 6 months (f = 0.35). BMI and BMI percentile were not differentially affected. |
| van Grieken et al., 2013 | RCT | To assess the effectiveness of a prevention protocol among 5-year-old overweight children. | BMI and waist circumference after 2 years. |
(1) usual care (349) (2) intervention (288) |
Three structured lifestyle counseling sessions using a MI approach, if needed. | 1-day workshop on MI. |
There was no overall difference between intervention and control condition. Mildly overweight children (baseline BMI 17.25 and 17.50) in the intervention condition showed a significantly smaller increase in BMI at follow-up (estimated adjusted mean difference -0.67, p = 0.024 and -0.52, p = 0.045, respectively). compared to the control condition. |
| Wong and Cheng, 2013 | Pre-post quasi-experimental study | To assess the effects of motivational interviewing for obese children and telephone consultation for parents to promote weight loss in obese children. |
Change in weight for-height percentage, in weight-related behaviors (calorie intake and calorie consumption) and weight-related anthropometric measures (BH, BW, BMI, Fat%, TSF, Abd, WC, HC,SBP, DBP) |
(1) control (49) (2) MI (70) (3) MI+ (66) |
Children in MI group received five MI sessions. Children in the MI+ group received five MI sessions and five telephone consultation calls for their parents. | Training in MI skills. | Children in both the MI and MI+ groups showed significant improvement in their weight-related behaviors and obesity-related anthropometric measures. Significant differences have been found in pre-and post- intervention for MI group: e.g., calories intake decrease (mean difference 389.57; p < 0.01); calories consume in PA exercise increase (mean difference 2052.10; p < 0.01); MWH (t = 8.67, p < 0.01), BMI (t = 5.36, p < 0.01), Fat% (t = 7.07, p < 0.01), WC (t = 9.92, p < 0.01). Significant differences have been found in pre-and post- intervention for MI+ group: e.g., calories intake decrease (mean difference 376.65; p < 0.01); calories consume in PA exercise decrease (mean difference 2590.64; p < 0.01). Variation in anthropometric measure is similar to MI group. Significant improvements were found between control group and MI group and control group and MI+ group in many anthropometric measures: e.g., BMI (t = 3.32 p < 0.01 and t = 3.84 p < 0.01, respectively). MI+ group had a higher consume of calories from PA than MI group (f = 5.24, p = 0.02). |
MI, motivational interviewing; BMI, body mass index; MWH, weight-for-height percentage; Fat%, fat percentage; BH, body height; BW, body weight; WC, waist circumference; HC, hip circumference; TSF, triceps skinfold thickness; Abd, abdominal thickness; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; PA, physical activity.