A randomized-controlled pilot study of Epstein’s family-based behavioural treatment for childhood obesity in a clinical setting in Iceland

Gunnarsdottir, Thrudur
Sigurdardottir, Zuilma Gabriela
Njardvik, Urdur
Olafsdottir, Anna Sigridur
Bjarnason, Ragnar

¹ University of Iceland, Centre of Public Health, Stapi v. Hringbraut, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland
² University of Iceland, Faculty of Psychology, Oddi v. Sturlugata, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland
³ University of Iceland, School of Education, v/Stakkahlid, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland
⁴ Children’s Medical Centre, Landspitali University Hospital, Hringbraut, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland

Thrudur Gunnarsdottir, M.A., licensed psychologist and PhD student, University of Iceland, Centre of Public Health, Stapi v. Hringbraut, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland [email protected]

Thrudur Gunnarsdottir is a licensed psychologist who is currently working on her doctorate from the Centre of Public Health at the University of Iceland. She and her colleagues have, for the past few years, been working on providing an evidence-base for setting up and providing quality outpatient treatment for obese children at the Children’s Medical Centre, Landspitali University Hospital in Iceland.

Nordic Psychology 63(1):p 6-19, April 2011. | DOI: 10.1027/1901-2276/a000024

Objective: To assess the acceptability and effectiveness of Epstein’s family-based behavioural treatment (FBBT) for childhood obesity in a medical setting in Iceland. Methods: Participants were 16 obese children (BMI > 2.4 SDS), aged 8-12 years, and a parent participating with each child. Families were randomly assigned to 4 months of treatment at two different times. One group started treatment right away, and the other group had a delayed treatment onset of 12 months during which the participants received standard care. Weight, height and BMI were assessed at baseline, 4 months, 12 months and 16 months. The main outcomes were ratings of treatment acceptability (measured post treatment) and child changes in body mass index standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS). Results: For the eight children in the standard care group, BMI-SDS remained constant from baseline until starting treatment at 12 months. Thirteen families completed treatment, during which the children lowered their BMI-SDS. The children first receiving treatment (n = 7) maintained their BMI-SDS from post-treatment to the 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: Treatment was found acceptable and effects were promising. These results provide substantiation for a larger study of treatment effects.