Reducing the human and economic burden of obesity is a public health priority. Obesity disproportionately affects Black children (20% vs. 15% of White children)7 and low-income children. Family-based Behavioral Treatment (FBT) for childhood obesity is an effective, standardized behavioral intervention that has been developed and tested over the past 30 years by Drs. Leonard Epstein, Denise Wilfley, and colleagues. FBT targets both child and parent, with lasting positive effects that can extend to the family. FBT provides children and parents with new ways of thinking about their diet and exercise in order to support changes that support a healthy lifestyle. Participants work with "coaches" in individual sessions and in group sessions to both tailor the intervention to the family and provide an opportunity for social facilitation with other families that are participating. Missouri Medicaid (MOHealthNet) began reimbursement of 26 weeks of behavioral treatment for adult and child obesity on March 30, 2021. The FBT program implementation is designed to take advantage of this new benefit at clinical practices with the intent of creating a way to expand a workforce and standardize a program that can be disseminated across Missouri and possibly nationwide.
The purpose of the this research program is to evaluate for possible dissemination an online training program for FBT coaches, as well the implementation of the program, particularly in underserved rural and urban Black communities.
Participants comprise a dyad of parent and child. Full time caregivers that live with the dyad may participate in place of the parent, if the parent is unable to commit to the weekly sessions. Parental consent is required for the caregiver and the caregiver provides separate consent.
Participants attend weekly FBT group sessions with 3-10 participating families for 17 weeks, then 2 monthly individual sessions in month 5 and 6. This meets the 26-week Medicaid benefit requirement. Group sessions provide didactic content to support the families efforts to realign their diet and increase their exercise. Significant emphasis is placed on social networking, within the group session and in the participants' community, which is associated with better outcomes. There are 5 program sessions during the 6 months that are individual, with just the coach and the dyad. These are where program assessments are completed and the family and coach collaborate on goals and ways to meet them. The families also have two medical nutrition therapy consultations with registered dietitians. These are clinical interventions and not part of the research program structure. After the 26 weeks, the family returns for a 12-month research assessment, which is the final visit of the program.
When all participants have completed, matched-controls will be drawn from the electronic health record (EHR) at both clinical sites. Additional data are collected from the EHR to support cost analysis and implementation evaluation at the participant and organization levels.
This research program is being conducted at pediatric practices affiliated with Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO and Freeman Health System, Joplin, MO. Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) is the primary award site and is responsible for FBT coach training and fidelity.
