A new study published in PubMed looked at guided self-help versus group treatment for children with obesity.
“This study compares the intensive group-based treatment for children with obesity, called family-based treatment, with a guided self-help version which is delivered to the parent /child dyad,” study author Kerri Boutelle told us. “We were interested whether the guided self-help version would provide similar weight losses to the intensive family-based treatment.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 5 teens and children in the United States are obese. Those more likely to be affected by obesity include teens, Hispanic children, Black children, and children within families of a lower socio-economic status.
The research team also evaluated the cost of delivering both treatments. Guided self-help was delivered in short 20-minute visits every other week and group family-based treatment was delivered in weekly 60-minute groups provided separately to parents and children.
“We hypothesized that guided self-help would be as effective as the group based program and it would cost less,” Boutelle told us.
Typically group family-based treatment is only offered in academic medical centers, and is not available to the majority of families who need it.
“We randomized 150 parents and children with obesity to either six-months of guided self-help or group family-based treatment,” Boutelle told us. “We followed the families for 12 months after they finished treatment.”
The results showed that guided self-help provided similar outcomes on child weight loss and was less expensive. Guided self-help is delivered in 20-minute visits every other week and for less cost.
“The reduced time and ease of scheduling for the family in guided self-help will allow for an increased reach of treatment to a greater proportion of families in need,” Boutelle told us.