Giugno 2007 - Volume XXVI - numero 6
Pagine elettroniche ; Ricerca
Key words: Paediatric obesity, Family, Therapy, Therapeutic Patient Education, Empowerment
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions, whereas steadily effective therapies are not available. Behavioural Therapy, even if recommended, is not always available or easily accepted by children and/or their families. We developed an intensive and sustainable therapeutic patient education programme. It consists of a preliminary clinical and knowledge assessment session, followed by an educational session and by a further knowledge assessment session. Additional clinical sessions are proposed after 4-6 months and then every year. The study involved 254 overweight or obese children, without psychological problems, 127 of them, aged 10,4±3 years, with a mean percentage overweight (BMI%) of 58,4±18,6% were treated with Therapeutic education, after a follow- up of one year or more. Controls included 127 age-matched patients, treated with traditional dietary approach. After an average follow-up of 2,8±1,3 years, BMI% of study group decreased by 10,2±16.6%; with good reduction of severe obesity (-50%). BMI% and severe obesity remained unchanged in controls. The results suggest the efficacy and the sustainability of this therapeutic education programme that might represent an alternative to other therapeutic approaches. Its key value is sustainability: indeed, it was completely carried out by a single paediatrician and met with an elevated participants’ acceptance.
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