Zeitschrift für Fettleibigkeit bei Kindern Offener Zugang

Abstrakt

Presence of Obesity Related Comorbidities Associated with Lower Attrition Rate in Pediatric Weight Management Program

Wei Jie Nicholas Hong, Hui Ling Huang, Kumudhini Rajasegaran, Jean Yin Oh, Siobhan Kelly, Seyed Ehsan Saffari and Chu Shan Elaine Chew

Background: Multidisciplinary pediatric weight management clinics have reported varying effectiveness in childhood obesity and they faced a common issue of high attrition rate. The effectiveness of pediatric weight management clinic and predictors of attrition has not been described in a multiracial Singapore population.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to determine whether a dedicated multidisciplinary pediatric weight management program in a single center tertiary institution effectively reduces Body Mass Index (BMI) Z-Scores and cardiovascular risk factors in children with obesity aged 2-16 years old pre post intervention and to examine the factors that predict attrition from the program.

Methods: This is a single center retrospective study, where medical records of patients enrolled in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital paediatric weight mangement clinic over a 14 months period was reviewed. The program is a multicomponent family based clinic that utilizes medical management, dietary and physical activity counseling and intervention. Inclusion criteria for enrollment in the program was more than 2 years of age with BMI of more than 90^th percentile. Attenders were defined as attending more than ≥ 2 clinic visit. Analyses were performed to identify factors associated with changes in BMI Z-Score and cardiovascular risk factors and attrition from the program.

Results: A total of 121 patients were enrolled in the pediatric weight management program and 68% had obesity related comorbidities with dyslipidemia being the most common followed by hypertension. There were 51 attenders and presence of obesity related comorbidities predicted lower attrition rate (p=0.05). The attenders had a significant reduction in mean BMI Z-Score of 0.082 (95% CI,-0.13 to -0.033) (p=0.001) with significant improvements in high-density lipoprotein level and total cholesterol to high- density lipoprotein level (p<0.05).

Conclusions: A multidisciplinary pediatric weight management program can improve the overweight status and the cardiovascular risk factors. Attrition factors should be studied to minimize defaulting rates.