• Intervention
    How does adolescent-only treatment of obesity compare to interventions with both adolescents and their parents (together)?
    • Conclusion

      Studies directly comparing parent-and-adolescent together vs. adolescent-only obesity treatment formats are inconsistent in their findings about the different effects of these two treatment formats. Thus, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether one treatment format is better than the other in bringing about weight loss outcomes.

    • Grade: V
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    How does child-only treatment of obesity compare to interventions with both children (ages 6-12) and their parents (together)?
    • Conclusion

      Studies directly comparing parent-and-child (ages six to 12) together vs. child-only obesity treatment formats are inconsistent in their findings about the different effects of these two treatment formats. Thus, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether one treatment format is better than the other in bringing about weight loss outcomes.

      However, given the evidence that child-only interventions are not effective for children ages six to 12, including the parents in some fashion in treatment of childhood obesity is likely more effective.

      See Is counseling children (ages 6-12) for weight loss in the absence of their parents effective?

    • Grade: IV
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    How does child-only treatment of obesity compare to interventions with both children (ages 2-5) and their parents (together)?
    • Conclusion

      There was no research meeting the inclusion criteria comparing child-only interventions vs. interventions that included both parent and child (together) for children ages two to five.

      However, given the evidence that child-only interventions are not effective for children ages six to 12, it is unlikely that child-only interventions with young children (ages two to five) are effective.

      See Is counseling children (ages 6-12) for weight loss in the absence of their parents effective?

      Effectiveness aside, weight loss (in contrast to weight maintenance) in this population may be appropriate only under certain circumstances. However, these circumstances have not been identified in the research.

       

    • Grade: IV
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.