"PHIT" program helps overweight kids and parents

A comprehensive weight management program that educates underserved, ethnically diverse overweight kids and their parents about healthy eating, exercise and everyday issues like how to set goals, solve problems, deal with bullying and boost self esteem has shown promise in pilot testing.

"Overall, we've seen high satisfaction with kids and parents," lead investigator Dr. Sarah Hampl of Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, told Reuters Health. "Initial findings show kids are losing a modest amount of weight and their velocity of weight gain is dropping. Parents are benefiting as well."
In the program, called "Promoting Health in Teens and Kids" (PHIT), conducted at the Children's Mercy Hospital, children between the ages of 9 and 18 years are first evaluated by a pediatrician, social worker, dietitian, and physical therapist. The children and their parents then participate in once-weekly group education sessions for 24 weeks, followed by monthly maintenance sessions for 24 months.

"Clinic visits are paid for by insurance," Hampl explained, and the hospital and a local foundation pay for the educational visits. The initial results are based on data for 31 children and their parents.

Six months before the children and parents began the program, "their weight and growth velocity were all on the rise, and by 24 weeks their weight has stabilized or they have lost a modest amount of weight -- on average about 5 pounds," Hampl said.

The children are also showing healthy changes in their insulin levels, reducing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. PHIT program participants report drinking less sugar-laden drinks, eating more meals as a family and exercising more. Parents, for the most part, indicate their child's quality of life has improved with the program.

Hampl is also encouraged that the vast majority of participants are very satisfied with the program. "We know that for any sort of lifestyle change to be successful, families must want it and like it. This seems to work," she said.

Hampl unveiled the initial PHIT program findings at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in Toronto.