Evidence-based behavioral treatment of obesity in children and adolescents

Abstract

Evidence based guidelines conclude that treatment of child and adolescent obesity should be directed at motivated families, who perceive obesity as a problem. Treatment evidence suggests that treatment should involve the families and focus on changes in sedentary behavior, physical activity, and diet. Guidelines on management of pediatric obesity recommend using a number of behavioral change techniques, notably assessing readiness to change, self monitoring, goal setting, rewards, contracting, stimulus control, problem solving, and preventing relapse. Existing evidence suggests that even low intensity treatments are likely to have modest benefits for weight status (compared to no treatment), and more marked benefits for other outcomes such as quality of life.