MEND program deemed effective intervention for childhood obesity

Overweight and obese children who participated in the Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It program, commonly known as MEND, experienced significant decreases in waist circumference, reductions in BMI and improvements in blood pressure, recovery heart rate, physical activity level and global self-esteem.

From 2005 to 2007, researchers at the University College London Institute of Child Health conducted a randomized, controlled trial to assess the efficacy of the MEND program — a free, 10-week, after-school weight management course that promotes healthy eating and physical activity among overweight and obese children and their families.

The MEND intervention involved 18 two-hour sessions during nine weeks. All sessions were conducted by two MEND leaders and one assistant. Eight sessions were devoted to behavior change, eight to nutrition and 16 to physical activity. In addition, a 12-week family swimming pass was issued to all participating families at the end of the program.

The researchers included 116 children aged 8 to 12 years with BMI >98th percentile and randomly assigned them to either participate in intervention or wait six months for intervention. They took measurements at baseline, six and 12 months. Mean attendance was 86%.

At six months, children assigned to the MEND program had a reduced waist circumference z score (–0.37) and a BMI z score that compared with children assigned to wait six months for intervention (–0.24; P<.0001 for both). At 12 months, children in the intervention group had reduced their waist circumference z score by 0.47 and BMI z score by 0.23 (P<.0001 for both).

Data reveal a –4.1-cm difference in waist circumference and a –1.2 difference in BMI between children enrolled in the MEND program and the control group; however, the researchers noted little change in body composition during the study period.

The benefits of the MEND program were sustained for nine months after completion of the program, according to the researchers.

“The MEND program isn’t a miracle pill for obesity, but what this independent study does show is that child weight loss programs that involve the whole family are a scientifically proven and sustainable solution to the child obesity crisis,” Harry MacMillan, chief executive of MEND, said in a press release. “With the recent suspension of obesity drugs, people are starting to wake up to the fact that quick fixes don’t work. These research findings prove that teaching children how to keep fit and eat healthy does work if done in the right way.”

Sacher PM. Obesity. 2010;18:S1-S7.