Sociodemographic Outcomes From an Urban Pediatric Obesity Program

Objective: Pediatric weight management programs are plagued by insufficient changes in standardized body mass index (zBMI), disproportionately impacting racial minorities. Treatment outcomes of a pediatric weight management program with a large and diverse baseline sample were evaluated. Demographic and socioeconomic predictors of change in zBMI after 1 year were examined separately to identify characteristics contributing to treatment outcomes. It was hypothesized that socioeconomic disparities would account for lower zBMI outcomes above and beyond demographic factors. Method: Data were collected from 1,784 youth at baseline (n = 271 at 12 months; age M = 11.89 years, SD = 3.15). Information on zBMI, demographics (sex, race, age, mother’s body mass index [BMI]) and socioeconomic status (SES; health insurance, number parents in home) were collected at baseline and 12 months post intervention. Results: After 1 year, average change in zBMI was −0.12 (SD = 0.21). Linear hierarchical regression analysis assessed if SES factors predicted change in zBMI after 12 months above and beyond demographic factors. Demographics were entered in Block 1, and SES factors in Block 2. The final model significantly accounted for 14.2% of variance in change in zBMI (p < .000). Examining blocks separately indicated SES variables did not significantly add to the model beyond demographic variables, contributing to less than 1.0% of the variance. Unique predictors included age, and mother’s BMI. Conclusions: Participation in the program was associated with decreases in zBMI for youth who completed the year of treatment and follow-ups. Factors related to age and family had the largest association with weight loss. SES factors were not related to change in zBMI beyond demographic factors.