Weight-related quality of life and temperament as predictors and moderators of outcomes among treatment-seeking, low-income, ethnically diverse children with obesity

Within any childhood obesity treatment program, some children have better outcomes than others. Little is known about predictors or moderators of more positive outcomes. We aimed to identify whether child temperament and weight-related quality of life predict or moderate childhood obesity treatment outcomes at 6 months. From 2015 to 2016, children (n = 97) ages 5-11 years old with obesity were randomized to a clinic-community (Bull City Fit) or a clinic-only treatment program. Linear regression was used to explore whether dimensions of child temperament and weight-related quality of life predicted or moderated 6-month anthropometric and physical activity outcomes. Children who had more social avoidance due to their weight at baseline had significantly better improvements in body fat percent in the clinic-community model compared with the clinic-only model at 6 months. Across programs, better baseline social quality of life predicted greater increases in waist circumference; conversely, better physical quality of life predicted a decrease in percent of the 95th percentile. Also, children with longer attention spans had greater increases in physical activity. Our findings suggest that children who have social avoidance due to their weight may benefit most from comprehensive clinic-community treatment. Weight-related quality of life may influence outcomes across all treatments, and practitioners need to carefully counsel children experiencing weight negatively.