Treatment Efforts Addressing Child Weight Management by Unifying Patients, Parents & Providers

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 under-served
populations with a special focus on Black children, families insured by Medicaid, and sex
differences.