Background: The program The combined DAK therapy for obesity in children and adolescents’ funded and conducted by the Deutsche Angestellten-Krankenkasse (DAK), a German health insurance company, commenced in 2003. The treatment program lasts for 1 year and comprises of 2 phases: an initial inpatient therapy for 6 weeks followed by a home-based outpatient treatment of the overweight children, adolescents, and their families for 10.5 months. The therapy complies with the guidelines of the German Working Group of Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence (AGA). Participants and Methods: In this study, 162 obese children and adolescents were compared with a control group of 75 obese subjects recruited from the waiting list for the program. The aim was to analyze whether the changes in weight, eating behavior, and physical fitness during the therapy period are a result of the therapy itself or whether they are attributable to external effects. Body weight, height, and physical fitness were assessed through direct measurements while behavior and quality of life were assessed using self-report questionnaires. The development of body weight was evaluated using the BMI-SDS which is a measure of how many standard deviations an individual BMI is above or below the age- and gender-specific mean. Results: Within the observation period the BMISDS decreased significantly by 0.36 ± 0.34 in the intervention group, whereas no changes of BMI-SDS were observed in the control group (0.04 ± 0.17). The study revealed significant, positive treatment effects in exploratory analyses with regard to weight loss, behavior changes, physical fitness, and development of quality of life as a result of the therapy. These effects were not seen in the control group. Conclusion: We conclude that these positive developments are a result of the treatment program.

Keywords:
Obesity, Children, Adolescents, Therapy, Behavior modification, Weight reduction
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel
2009
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.