Evaluation of a Family Intervention Program for the Management of Overweight or Obese Children (NEREU)

Evaluation of Family Intervention Program for the Treatment of Overweight or Obese Children (Nereu Program): Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Nereu program compared to standard care (advice on increased physical activity and nutrition) such as a health intervention tool for the childhood obesity management Methods/Design: The study design is a randomized controlled multicenter clinical trial using two types of treatment. Population and sample: Children 6 to 12 years with overweight or obesity, according to the z score of body mass index (BMI z) >= 1 for age and gender defined by International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). It is considered necessary to recruit 100 children: 50 control group (CG) and 50 Intervention (IG). Study Intervention: Nereu Group: 8 month intervention with 3 weekly training sessions doing physical exercise for children and a weekly session for parents of physical activity and healthy eating habits and behaviour strategies, that involves both parental and child participation. The control group will receive a monthly session of healthy physical and eating habits. Main Outcome Measures: Improvement of BMI z, physical activity and nutrition habits, behaviour components and quality life related to health at the end, 6 and 12 months after intervention.

Each family will receive a single monthly meeting, a total of 8 with 10 minutes duration each one. The sessions will take place in the consultation of the paediatrician and it will be delivered by the child's nurse or/and paediatrician. The sessions' contents are about promotion of healthy eating and physical activity habits.

The Nereu treatment program is an intensive family-based behavioural multi-component lifestyle intervention. Consist in an intensive treatment of 8 months duration (from October to May, that is, an academic year). The intervention is a multidisciplinary intervention consisting in 4 structured components: (a) physical activity training for children, (b) family theoretical and practical sessions for parents, (c) behaviour strategies, that involves both parental and child participation (d) weekend extra activities.

Weight is measured to the nearest of 0.1 kg using an electronic scale and height (Ht) to the nearest of 0.1 cm with a stadiometer, in lightly dressed and without shoes. The BMIz is calculated according z score of BMI adjusted by age and gender (IOTF).

4 times: at baseline, at the end of the intervention (8 months later of the baseline), 6 and 12 months post intervention

To measure physical activity will be used an Actigraph accelerometers (GT3X+ models), it will be wear by participants during all day for seven consecutive days.

4 times: at baseline, at the end of the intervention (8 months later of the baseline), 6 and 12 months post intervention

Inclusion Criteria: Children aged between 6 to 12 years old Overweight or obese according to the IOTF criteria Exclusion Criteria: Medical co-morbidities: Diabetes mellitus or hypercholesterolemia or cardiovascular disease that could be contraindicate the sport practice. Use of medication that might have an effect on weight loss. previous enrolment in another similar treatment program based on reducing obesity.

Serra-Paya N, Ensenyat A, Castro-Vinuales I, Real J, Sinfreu-Bergues X, Zapata A, Mur JM, Galindo-Ortego G, Sole-Mir E, Teixido C. Effectiveness of a Multi-Component Intervention for Overweight and Obese Children (Nereu Program): A Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS One. 2015 Dec 14;10(12):e0144502. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144502. eCollection 2015.

Serra-Paya N, Ensenyat A, Real J, Castro-Vinuales I, Zapata A, Galindo G, Sole-Mir E, Bosch-Munoz J, Mur JM, Teixido C. Evaluation of a family intervention programme for the treatment of overweight and obese children (Nereu Programme): a randomized clinical trial study protocol. BMC Public Health. 2013 Oct 23;13:1000. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-1000.