Results of an outpatient intervention for obese children and adolescents

Background Aim of this study was to examine effects of an outpatient intervention program for obese children. Method 45 obese children were treated with a cognitive-behavioural intervention program (IG) and were compared with 21 children of a waiting list (WG). Weight, self esteem, emotional and behaviour problems were measured at the beginning (TO) and the end (of T1) of the intervention. Additionally, predictors of therapy success were examined. Results The intervention program lead to a moderate reduction of weight, whereas there was no weight reduction in the waiting group. Furthermore, self esteem increased and emotional problems decreased in the IG. Neither a positive family history of obesity nor the weight at TO did predict treatment outcome. Conclusion Obese children profited from the cognitive-behavioral intervention program, weight reduction was, however, only moderate. Therefore, specific predictors for therapy success should be evaluated in further studies.