The Efficacy of a Family-Based Intervention Program on Childhood Obesity A Quasi-Experimental Design

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to assess the efficacy of a family-based (FB) weight-loss and behavior-modification intervention among overweight/obese children (age 9–11 years) and their parents in Taiwan. The intervention group (52 child–parent dyads) participated in an FB program for 7 weeks. The control group (55 child–parent dyads) received an educational pamphlet about obesity prevention. The children’s body mass index (BMI) z-scores were the primary outcome variable. The parents’ BMI, high-calorie (HC) food-intake behaviors, screen-related behaviors, and restrictions on children’s consumption of HC foods and screen-related behaviors and the availability of HC foods at home were the secondary outcome variables. Outcome variables were measured at baseline (T0), at the end of the intervention (T1), and 4 weeks after the end of the intervention (T2). A linear mixed model was used to assess the efficacy of the FB program. Results indicated that the children’s BMI z-scores decreased sign...