Weight Management and Ethnicity
Ethnicity, Insurance Type, and Follow-up
in a Pediatric Weight Management Program
Weight Management Study - Aim
To assess the characteristics of children and adolescents who drop out
of a clinical weight management program.
Weight Management Study - Methods
A retrospective survey of children and adolescents attending a pediatric
weight management program was undertaken. Characteristics of children
(age, relative weight, gender, and ethnicity) who dropped out of the program
were compared with characteristics of those who continued beyond the initial
assessment as a function of type of insurance.
Weight Management Study - Results
The children who dropped out of the program after the initial assessment
differed by ethnicity from those who continued in the program: 63 percent
of white children returned for more than one visit, whereas only 35 percent
of the African-American children continued in the program. Indemnity insurance
coverage was associated with more clinic visits, as compared with managed
care insurance. The association between insurance type and clinic visit
number was of borderline significance (p = 0.06), when ethnic group was
added to this analysis.
Weight Management Study - Issues
Ethnicity is associated with attendance in a Pediatric Weight Management
Program. Given the epidemic of obesity in children and adolescents, issues
related to program compliance must be assessed to improve overall outcome.
This is especially important given the high rate of obesity among African
Americans and the low rate of ongoing attendance observed among African
Americans in the Weight Management Program.
Source: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
2003
Weight Loss Methods
The science of weight loss and obesity management is constantly evolving,
along with research into weight loss drugs, supplements and gastric bypass
surgery. At present, however, a balanced diet combined with regular exercise
remains the favored weight management strategy of most weight loss experts. Return to Weight Loss Data
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