Family-Based Intervention for Controlling Childhood Obesity: An Experience Among Iranian Children

Background: treatment of childhood obesity is difficult, andsuccessful management may differ in various areas with different culturalbackgrounds. the present study was conducted to assess the effect oflifestyle modification family?based intervention in young iranian children.methods: this field trial study was conducted in 2011 among 156 obesechildren in tehran, iran. they were randomly assigned to interventionand control groups. at baseline, anthropometric measurements andbiochemical analysis were performed. the second and third phasesconsisted of training sessions for parents of the intervention group.at the fourth phase, there was no training program. in all fourphases, questionnaires on demographic characteristics, lifestyle andfood frequency were completed by interviewing with mothers, andbiochemical analysis was repeated at the end of the study.results: during the second and third phases of the study, weight andheight increased significantly in both groups, although weight increasedmore slowly, and waist and hip circumferences was decreased in theintervention group. serum triglycerides and cholesterol decreasedsignificantly in the intervention group (p < 0.05). analysis of foodgroup consumption showed that in the intervention group, not onlyconsumption of milk, dairy and nuts group increased significantly butalso the corresponding figure decreased for bread and cereals, sugar andconfectionery ingredients; moreover, the family’s oil and fat consumptiondecreased significantly (p < 0.05). watching tv and playing on thecomputer decreased significantly in the intervention group; however,walking time increased significantly in both groups (p < 0.05).conclusions: the family?based lifestyle program had limited butdesirable effects on anthropometric and metabolic outcomes of theobese children. we suggest that a longer period of intervention mayhave more favorable results.