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MEND intervention improved health outcomes, psychological symptoms of obese children

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The Obesity Society’s 27th Annual Scientific Meeting

Overweight or obese children who participated in the 10-week, community- and family-based MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Diet) program experienced beneficial effects in BMI, physical activity and self-esteem.

Paul Sacher, BSc, RD, research director of the MEND program, presented data beyond the controlled environment of previous clinical trials at a late-breaking clinical trials session today.

The MEND program consists of twice-weekly group sessions that focus on behavior modification, nutrition education and physical activity. It is available in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark and New Zealand.

For this study, local program leaders at more than 300 locations across the United Kingdom assessed outcome measures before and after the intervention for 3,861 overweight and obese children (mean age, 10.5 years; 46% boys; 74% white). Mean attendance of the group sessions was 79%, with 8% drop-outs.

Mean BMI z-score decreased by 0.17 (95% CI, 0.16-0.17) post-intervention, and waist circumference z-scores decreased by 0.21 (95% CI, 0.20-0.22).

Physical activity levels improved by 3.4 hours per week, and self-reported sedentary activities decreased by -6.2 hours per week (P≤.0001 for both). The researchers noted improvement in cardiovascular fitness as evidenced by the step-test recovery heart rate (-8.4 beats per minute; P≤.0001).

Participation in the MEND program was also associated with improved body image and self esteem, based on self reports by the children (P≤.0001).

“In accordance with earlier MEND research, attending this program had beneficial effects on anthropometry, cardiovascular fitness, physical activity habits and body image,” Sacher said during the presentation. – by Jennifer Southall

For more information:

• Sacher P. Late-breaker presentations. Presented at: the Obesity Society’s 27th Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 24-28, 2009; Washington.

More highlights from the Obesity Society meeting>>