Background: Primary care providers (PCPs) are expected to provide weight management counseling despite having low confidence in their ability to be effective. This analysis examined change in weight status between children who received usual care from their PCP and those who received one of two structured weight management programs in a randomized control trial. Methods: Data from parent-child dyads who were referred to the Guided Self-Help Obesity Treatment in the Doctor's Office study, but did not participate, were examined to determine change in weight status compared with those who participated in the trial. Families were divided into four groups: Group 1, structured treatment with high attendance; Group 2, structured treatment with low attendance; Group 3, PCP/usual care with some weight management counseling; and Group 4, PCP/usual care with no counseling. Anthropometric data and PCP delivery of weight management counseling were abstracted from the electronic health record. Main outcomes were changes in child BMI z-scores, BMI as a percentage relative to the 95th percentile, and BMI as a difference relative to the 95th percentile at the end of treatment and 6-month follow-up for each group. Results: Groups 1 and 2 showed significant decreases in weight status over time, with Group 1 showing the greatest decrease. Groups 3 and 4 remained relatively stable. Changes in weight status in Groups 2, 3, and 4 were significantly different from Group 1 at post-treatment. Conclusions: While structured weight management programs have a significant impact on weight status, those who received some counseling by their PCP did not show significant increases in weight status and were relatively weight stable. Efforts should be broadened to support PCPs as they provide weight management counseling in the office.
Keywords: childhood obesity; family-based behavioral treatment; guided self-help; obesity treatment; primary care; weight stabilization.