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The effect of family-based multidisciplinary cognitive behavioral treatment on health-related quality of life in childhood obesity

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of multidisciplinary treatment on obesity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods

Obese children were randomized to a multidisciplinary lifestyle treatment, including medical, nutritional, physical, and psychological counseling during 3 months, (n = 40, BMI-SDS; 4.2 ± 0.7, age; 13.3 ± 2.0) or standard care, including an initial advice on nutrition and physical activity by the pediatrician (n = 39, BMI-SDS; 4.3 ± 0.7, age; 13.1 ± 1.9). At baseline, after 3 months of treatment and at 12 months follow-up, data were collected for BMI-SDS and a European validated questionnaire for assessing HRQOL (DISABKIDS).

Results

A significantly reduced BMI-SDS was found for the intervention group after 3 months treatment (4.0 ± 0.9 vs. 4.2 ± 0.7, P = 0.02) and at 12 months follow-up (3.8 ± 1.1 vs. 4.2 ± 0.7, P = 0.03). HRQOL in the intervention group was significantly improved at 12 months follow-up and unchanged in the obese control group. Agreement between child and parent report was moderate (67–85%), with parents reporting a lower HRQOL for their obese children than children themselves in both groups.

Conclusion

Multidisciplinary treatment is effective in reducing BMI-SDS and improving HRQOL after 12 months follow-up.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

BMI-SDS:

Body mass index standard deviation score

HRQOL:

Health-related quality of life

ICC:

Inter-class correlation coefficient

KINDL:

German questionnaire for measuring quality of life in children and adolescents

PedsQOL:

Pediatric quality of life inventory

PRISMA:

Pictorial representation of illness and self measure

QOL:

Quality of life

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Acknowledgments

The study was partly funded by an unrestricted educational grant by Pfizer and an unrestricted educational grant by a non-profit foundation (“de Stichting Vrienden van het JKZ”). We acknowledge and appreciated the helpful advice about the DISABKIDS questionnaire by Dr. H.M. Koopman. We also thank N. Kist for her help with implementing data for analysis. In addition, we thank all members of the multidisciplinary team for their time and patience in treating the children, and the participating children and their families.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Juliana Children’s Hospital/ HagaHospital, Sportlaan 600, 2566 MJ, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Rimke C. Vos & Euphemia C. A. M. Houdijk

  2. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Sasja D. Huisman

  3. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Hanno Pijl

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Jan M. Wit

Authors
  1. Rimke C. Vos
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  2. Sasja D. Huisman
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  3. Euphemia C. A. M. Houdijk
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  4. Hanno Pijl
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Correspondence to Rimke C. Vos.

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Vos, R.C., Huisman, S.D., Houdijk, E.C.A.M. et al. The effect of family-based multidisciplinary cognitive behavioral treatment on health-related quality of life in childhood obesity. Qual Life Res 21, 1587–1594 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-0079-1

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