Children Who Participate in Support Groups Are More Successful at Combating Obesity

Obesity in children is a serious problem that can have long time health consequences. Researchers are conducting studies to find the cause and solutions to the epidemic of overweight that is ruining the health of Americans. In a recent study at the University of Florida, researchers compared results achieved by children who were in a support group to lose weight compared to children who were not in a group.

They found that children who had access to the education and motivation of a group were more successful at controlling weight than children who were not in a group.

The study suggests that support groups may be very important for children who need encouragement to keep up a weight loss program.Children who are treated for overweight in groups were found to be more successful in fighting obesity than the children in a control group, according to a new study by the University of Florida.

The December Issue of Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine reported on a study that assessed the effectiveness of weight management programs for children in the real world.

The study gathered information on two groups; family based and parent only groups they found that the group programs were more effective in combating excess weight than children who were not in a group.The University of Florida study assessed child weight management programs in a real world, community based setting for families who live in rural areas

Obesity is a serious problem in America, according to David Janicke Ph.D, the lead investigator and assistant professor at University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions' department of clinical health psychology.

According to Janicke, "Given the scope and seriousness of obesity in America and the limited access to services for children in rural settings, there is a pressing need for programs that help rural families adopt healthy dietary habits and increase physical activity.

Children in the study were divided into groups to compare who they fared after six months of treatment. Children in the weight management groups were four percent less overweight and children in the control group were about three percent more overweight after six months.

The weight changes may seem modest, but they align with researchers' goal of helping children to make gradual dietary and lifestyle changes.

"When working with children it's important to introduce lifestyle changes slowly and make it fun, otherwise they may become resistant," Janicke said. "Making big changes in their diets could lead to unhealthy habits like skipping meals, eating disorders or weight gain."

Participants in the study were given instruction on health diet choices and were given pedometers along with encouragement to take extra steps. Families and group leaders worked together to set individual dietary goals.

In the parent only treatment group, the parents and children met separately to receive instruction and review progress.

"In the group setting families can talk with each other about barriers to making changes, offer suggestions and hold each other accountable," Janicke said.

"The Cooperative Extension Service network offers a unique setting in that it provides the infrastructure and stature within rural communities to support preventive services for families," he said.

Thomas Robinson, M.D., of the Irving Schulman, M.D. endowed professor in child health at Stanford University, wrote a opinion that accompanied the study. "Child weight-management studies in real-world settings like the one led by Janicke are extremely valuable and much too rare,..We need to focus new energy on finding solutions to childhood obesity, not just documenting the problem."

Resources

University of Florida, article publlished in the December issue of Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicnet :Grou treatment may help children achieve healthier weights" EurekAlert

Related articles

Study Finds that Buffet Eating and Lack of Exercise Equals Obesity in Rural America

Young Adults Need to Make Time for Healthy Meals

Sleep Disturbances in Children Causes Poor School Performance

Spirituality and Happiness Linked in Children

Girls Taste Buds More Sensitive Than Boys Research Study Findings