A Pragmatic Family-Centered Approach to Childhood Obesity Treatment

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that providers screen children aged 6 years and older for obesity and offer or refer them to a comprehensive behavioral intervention (≥26 hours over a period of up to 12 months) to promote improvement in weight status. Family-based behavioral treatment (FBT) is an effective treatment that targets both child and parents and meets the USPSTF recommendations. By contrast, the American Medical Association (AMA) recommends a staged approach to childhood obesity screening and counseling, which begins with prevention counseling by the primary care provider (PCP) and includes assessment of weight status, patient/family motivation and readiness to change, promotion of healthy eating and activity habits, and use of health behavior change strategies. Our study compares a staged approach enhanced standard of care (eSOC) vs. eSOC + FBT, to provide families and PCPs with information on the best intervention approach for the behavioral treatment of childhood obesity. Our project seeks to fill the gap in the evidence on family-based weight management in primary care settings among diverse and underserved populations with a special focus on Black children, families insured by Medicaid, and sex differences.