Treatment of infant obesity: prognostic factors associated with a favourable outcome

Abstract

Infant obesity is currently a nutritional challenge, inspite of several attempts to define long term successful therapeutic strategies or to recognise the prognostic factors associated with successful treatments, it has not been possible to decrease the rates of obesity and overweight in infants. This study analized familiar, clinical or personal factors that could serve as predictors of the therapeutic success in the ambulatory control of obese children. Between January and August 2000, 88 obese children of both sexes began monthly clinical controls, which included; history and examination, anthropometrical evaluation (modified by Tanner), degree of physical activity, dietary recall and laboratory examinations. Nutritional education was the only treatment for 6 months of follow-up. The data analysis included univariate proofs relating to changes in weight to length ratios or BMI in relation to personal, familial, anthropometrical and biochemical variables and physical activity. There was a drop out rate of 48% at 6 months. In those who finished the programme, 65% lost more than 5% of their inicial weight. Hypercholesterolemia over 200 mg/ml was found in 15% and hypertension in 10%. An association with favourable response was only found in children under 5. There was no associated with maternal age or education, gender, birth weight, family type, perception of obesity and self weight control. Conclusions: An ambulatory weight control programme has a high dropout rate, 34% having a favourable outcome, an age less than 5 is the only predictive variable of a successful response.