Background: This study aims to evaluate the effect of group workshops in a dietitian-led weight management program on body mass index (BMI) variables and clinic attendance rates.
Methods: The dietitian-led program at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead was revised in 2016 from individual-only appointments to include 3 workshops and 6 individual appointments over 12 months. Patients/families were required to attend at least 2 out of 3 workshops to qualify for individual appointments. A retrospective audit of patient data was conducted between March 2016 and September 2017. A total of 95 families were referred to the service (67 child, 28 adolescent) and 57 (39 child, 18 adolescent) attended the group workshops. 44 families (29 child, 15 adolescent) qualified for individual sessions, 14 families (8 child, 6 adolescent) withdrew, 22 families (17 child, 5 adolescent) are yet to complete and 8 (4 child, 4 adolescent) have completed the program. Anthropometric measures (weight, height, and calculated BMI, BMI z scores (zBMI) and percentage above 95th percentile (%BMIp95))were obtained at the group workshop and individual appointments. Ongoing data will be collected as participants’ progress through the program.
Results:.Significant reductions in mean zBMI were seen in completers of both groups: -0.42 (95% CI: 0.03 to 0.81; p = 0.003) and -0.22 (95% CI: -0.17 to 0.61; p > 0.05) for adolescents and children, respectively. Changes in mean %BMIp95 were also significant with up to 12.7% (6.18 to 19.19%; p = 0.0001) and 8.3% (1.83 to 14.83; p = 0.008) for adolescents and children, respectively. .
Conclusion: Significant improvements in anthropometric measurements were seen in all patients, with greater changes seen in adolescents. The new program format reduced attrition rates. Addition of workshops may be a useful tool to better engage and improve participants’ attendance rates.