Family Functioning and Children's Response to Primary Care Treatment for Overweight: A Preliminary Study ☆

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the relation between family functioning and children's response to treatment for overweight in a primary care setting. Methods Sixty predominantly African American (72%) parents of children who are overweight were recruited from a pediatric outpatient clinic to provide information about family functioning. Children's success in treatment was tracked through medical chart review. Results Parents' baseline self-report of family adaptability was associated with child body mass index z -scores ( z BMI) at 3-month follow-up, although this association was no longer significant once baseline child z BMI was taken into account. Conclusions Families with greater ability to adopt/implement changes may have children who do better in weight loss treatment. This preliminary study provides a model for integrating family systems ideas into pediatric overweight research and offers heuristic value as well as directions for future research in primary care settings.