ABSTRACT
The effects of modest lifestyle modifications in growing obese children using a children and family based intervention were interesting. This study was aimed to investigate the long term effect of intervention on the BMI percentile change and anthropometric measure change in obese/overweight children, compared with normal weight children. Three hundred and twelve children aged 6-7 years participated in this study. They were defined as normal weight, overweight, and obese, based on the BMI criterion from the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). The obese/overweight children and their parents enrolled in a 1-day seminar including education and behavioral modification, and group discussion. In addition, an interview and suggestions were made for each family 4 times a year via the telephone. The anthropometric data such as BMI and WC value as well as the changes in BMI percentile of all children were examined at pre- and post- 1 year intervention. The results showed that, at follow-up, the BMI percentile change of the obese/overweight children had not altered, which compared with normal weight children (odds ratio, 1.69 : 95% CI, 0.71-4.02; p = 0.17). Similarly, the mean change in BMI and WC values of obese/overweight children remained significantly higher than that of normal weight children (p \< 0.001). Thus, long-term intervention that focused on dietary education and behavioral modification, including a follow-up 3 times a year, did not provide any advantages on the BMI percentile change, or BMI and WC values of the obese/overweight children.