A key to tackling childhood obesity: Involve families and follow up

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis – Jim Dryden

When trying to help children lose weight, involving a parent in the treatment makes the entire family healthier, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown. Investigators from the university’s Center for Healthy Weight and Wellness tested a family-based treatment that involved weekly meetings over a period of several months. During that time, parents were taught to engineer a home environment that supported healthy eating and activity. They also were taught to model healthy behaviors for their children so that kids themselves could learn to make healthier choices. (more)