Impact of Short-Term Educational and Behavioral Therapy on Childhood Obesity

Objective. Evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary behavioral childhood/adolescent obesity treatment program on body mass index (BMI). Methods. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated at start and completion of a 12-session program in 74 consecutive children/adolescents. Results. Mean age was 12.2 Delta #+ 3.2 years and mean baseline BMI z score was 2.4 Delta #+ 0.3, corresponding to a BMI percentile of 98.9 Delta #+ 1.0%. The majority, 57% (n=42), completed all 12 sessions. Those completing all sessions were younger (11.6 vs. 13.2 years old, p