Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Volume 25, Issue 4 , Pages 282-288, August 2010

Family Functioning and Children's Response to Primary Care Treatment for Overweight: A Preliminary Study☆

  • William T. Dalton III, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: William T. Dalton, III, PhD.
    • ,
  • Katherine M. Kitzmann, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
    • ,
  • George A. Burghen, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and College of Nursing, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
    • ,
  • Johanna T. Mallare, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Endocrinology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
    • ,
  • Sarah S. Stender, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Endocrinology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

published online 06 July 2009.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the relation between family functioning and children's response to treatment for overweight in a primary care setting.

Methods

Sixty predominantly African American (72%) parents of children who are overweight were recruited from a pediatric outpatient clinic to provide information about family functioning. Children's success in treatment was tracked through medical chart review.

Results

Parents' baseline self-report of family adaptability was associated with child body mass index z-scores (zBMI) at 3-month follow-up, although this association was no longer significant once baseline child zBMI was taken into account.

Conclusions

Families with greater ability to adopt/implement changes may have children who do better in weight loss treatment. This preliminary study provides a model for integrating family systems ideas into pediatric overweight research and offers heuristic value as well as directions for future research in primary care settings.

Key words: Overweight, Treatment, Pediatric, Family functioning

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☆ Previous presentations: Dalton, W. T., III, Kitzmann, K. M., Burghen, G. A., Mallare, J. T., & Stender, S. S. (2007, September). Family functioning and children’s response to primary care treatment for overweight: Barriers and directions for future research. Paper presented at the 4th Annual Primary Care Research Day, Department of Family Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Dalton, W. T., III, Kitzmann, K. M., Beech, B. M., Burghen, G. A., Mallare, J. T., Stender, S. S., Nicholson, L. M., Anderson, M. B., Sevier, S. A., & Poe, M. M. (2005, October). Family functioning in families presenting at outpatient treatment for their overweight child. Poster session presented at the 2005 NAASO (North American Association for the Study of Obesity) Annual Scientific Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.Dalton, W. T., III, Kitzmann, K. M., Beech, B. M., Burghen, G. A., Mallare, J. T., Stender, S. S., Nicholson, L. M., Anderson, M. B., Sevier, S. A., & Poe, M. M. (2005, October). Family functioning in families presenting at outpatient treatment for their overweight child. Poster session presented at the 2005 NAASO (North American Association for the Study of Obesity) Annual Scientific Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

PII: S0882-5963(09)00119-5

doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2009.04.005

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Volume 25, Issue 4 , Pages 282-288, August 2010

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