A long-term follow-up of treatment for young children with obesity: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Early childhood obesity interventions supporting parents have the largest effects on child weight status. However, long-term follow-ups are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To examine weight status 48 months after obesity treatment initiation for 4- to 6-year-olds. METHODS: 177 families were recruited to the More and Less study, a 12-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Sweden (2012–2017); 6 children were excluded due to medical diagnoses. Thus, 171 families (non-Swedish origin 59%, university degree 40%) were eligible for this 48-month follow-up with modified intention-to-treat (n = 114 had 48-month data, n = 34 dropped out, n = 23 lost to follow-up). The RCT compared 3 treatment approaches: a 10-week parent support program (1.5 h/w) with follow-up booster sessions (PGB) or without (PGNB), and standard outpatient treatment (ST). Treatment effects on primary outcome (BMI-SDS) and secondary outcomes (BMI, %IOTF25 i.e., the distance, in percent, above the cut-off for overweight) were assessed. Clinically significant reduction of BMI-SDS (≥0.5) was assessed with risk ratio. Sociodemographic factors and attendance were examined by three-way interactions. RESULTS: After 48 months (mean 50 months, range 38–67 months) mean (95% CI) BMI-SDS was reduced in all groups: PGB −0.45 (−0.18 to −0.73, p < 0.001), PGNB −0.34 (−0.13 to −0.55, p < 0.001), ST −0.25 (−0.10 to −0.40, p < 0.001), no significant difference between groups. A clinically significant reduction of BMI-SDS ≥ 0.5 was obtained in 53.7% of PGB which was twice as likely compared to ST, 33.0%, RR 2.03 (1.27 to 3.27, p = 0.003), with no difference to PGNB, 46.6% (p = 0.113). %IOTF25 was unchanged from baseline for PGB 4.50 (−1.64 to 10.63), and significantly lower compared to ST 11.92 (8.40 to 15.44) (p = 0.043). Sociodemographics or attendance had no effect. CONCLUSION: The intensive parent-support early childhood obesity intervention led to better weight status outcomes over time, though BMI-SDS alone did not reflect this. Further research should investigate how to assess weight changes in growing children. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01792531.