Motivational interviews show good results in the treatment of childhood obesity
The study in which IDIAPJGol participated has demonstrated the effectiveness of motivational interviews in primary care to help children with obesity adopt a healthier lifestyle
Research involving IDIAPJGol researchers Josep Basora and Pablo Hsu shows that motivational interviews improve diet and increase activity levels in children who have developed childhood obesity. The results of this work, published in the journal Pediatric Obesity, demonstrate how training healthcare professionals in patient-centered approaches and support from dietitians has improved the effectiveness of treating childhood obesity in primary care.
This longitudinal study analyzed the impact of motivational interviews on the BMI z-score in children with obesity. The systematic review identified two clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of these interviews in primary care settings, showing a potentially greater effect in very young children.
Childhood obesity is a global health issue with serious long-term repercussions, such as an increase in non-communicable diseases and cardiometabolic disorders in adulthood. In many cases, this condition affects adults who have been obese since childhood. Due to its high prevalence, appropriate prevention programs and treatments have been implemented, with primary care playing a fundamental role as the first point of contact. Pediatricians have identified barriers such as a lack of family motivation and insufficient knowledge to promote behavior changes. The success of treatment depends on the active adoption of these modifications by the children's families.
Interventions
Health professionals in the control group provided standard care with routine intervention following the guidelines of the Spanish health system. These included recommendations to reduce sedentary activities, increase physical activity, and improve dietary habits, such as dividing meals into five daily portions and reducing the intake of sugary foods.
The study included children aged 8 to 14 diagnosed with obesity who attended regular health check-ups at primary care centers. The intervention group, known as Obemat2.0, received twelve hours of training that integrated specific content for each visit and motivational interviewing techniques. The educational materials provided to health professionals consisted of four key steps: assessing achieved goals, giving specific advice, proposing homework tasks, and setting new goals for the next visit. Additionally, the children participated in workshops on physical activity, food choices, and healthy cooking.
Study reference:
Luque V, Feliu A, Closa-Monasterolo R, Muñoz-Hernando J, Ferré N, Gutiérrez-Marín D, Guillen N, Basora J, Hsu P, Alegret-Basora C, Serrano MÀ, Mallafré M, Alejos AM, Balcells EN, Boada À, Paixà S, Mimbrero G, Gil-Mancha S, Tudela-Valls C, Alcazar M, Escribano J; Obemat2.0 Study Group. Impact of the motivational interviewing for childhood obesity treatment: The Obemat2.0 randomized clinical trial. Pediatr Obes. 2024 Jul;19(7):e13125. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.13125. Epub 2024 May 11. PMID: 38733242.
