10-YEAR OUTCOMES OF BEHAVIORAL FAMILY-BASED TREATMENT FOR CHILDHOOD OBESITY

We report 10-year treatment outcomes for obese children in 4 randomize d treatment studies. At 10 years, 34% decreased percentage overweight by 20% or more, and 30% were not obese. Significant effects were obser ved when parents and children were targeted and reinforced for weight loss in comparison with nontargeted controls and for children given li festyle or aerobic exercise in comparison with a calisthenics control. Thirty-four percent of the variance in change in percentage overweigh t was predicted from sex, baseline percentage overweight, self-monitor ing weight, meals eaten at home, and family and friends' support for e ating and exercise. Results show long-term changes in children depend on the treatment, and evidence converges on the importance of the fami ly and other sources of support for eating and activity change.