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NIH grants $2 million to Seattle Children’s Hospital for obesity strategy
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The Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute has received $2 million to study an obesity treatment method that uses long-term interventions for children and parents to reach and sustain weight-loss goals, according to a press release.
“This study is a great opportunity for one-on-one attention and group support for families who are starting this New Year thinking about weight loss and healthy habits,” Brian E. Saelens, PhD, of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Hospital, said in a press release. “Past results using this intensive method showed promise, and we are excited to expand this research with NIH support.”
Saelens’ study — Success in Health: Impacting Families Together (SHIFT) — helps children aged 7 to 11 years and their families through weekly intensive sessions for a 5-month period.
During SHIFT’s initial phase, approximately 300 children and their families will meet weekly with an interventionist to establish and discuss goals, after which parents and children will attend separate group education sessions. These sessions will focus on topics such as healthy eating, supporting behavioral changes and improving home eating and exercise environments, according to the release.
Saelens seeks to determine how long-term obesity interventions administered by a physician compare with long-term interventions encouraged by parents. The research will also assess the long-term effectiveness of the interventions and how they impact families for up to 1 year beyond treatment.
“Our preliminary results show that intense intervention and education is an effective weight loss treatment, but that level of sustained attention from a medical provider comes at a high cost that is rarely covered by insurance and can be prohibitively expensive for families,” Saelens said. “One of the exciting findings in our earlier study was that peer-to-peer interventions between families are as effective as professional interventions, perhaps even more effective, and they can be delivered at much lower costs.”
The NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is funding the study.