@article{WarschburgerKroellerHaertingetal.2016,
  author    = {Warschburger, Petra and Kr{\"o}ller, Katja and Haerting, Johannes and Unverzagt, Susanne and van Egmond-Fr{\"o}hlich, Andreas},
  title     = {Empowering Parents of Obese Children (EPOC): A randomized controlled trial on additional long-term weight effects of parent training},
  series = {Appetite : multidisciplinary research on eating and drinking},
  volume    = {103},
  journal   = {Appetite : multidisciplinary research on eating and drinking},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {0195-6663},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.appet.2016.04.007},
  pages     = {148 -- 156},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Although inpatient lifestyle treatment for obese children and adolescents can be highly effective in the short term, long-term results are unconvincing. One possible explanation might be that the treatment takes place far from parents' homes, limiting the possibility to incorporate the parents, who play a major role in establishing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in childhood and adolescence. The main goal was to develop a brief behaviorally oriented parent training program that enhances 'obesity-specific' parenting skills in order to prevent relapse. We hypothesized that the inclusion of additional parent training would lead to an improved long-term weight course of obese children. Parents of obese children (n = 686; 7-13 years old) either participated in complementary cognitive-behavioral group sessions (n = 336) or received written information only (n = 350) during the inpatient stay. Children of both groups attended multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation. BMI-SDS as a primary outcome was evaluated at baseline, post-intervention and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Intention-to-treat (ITT) as well as per-protocol analyses (PPA) were performed. A significant within-group decrease of 0.24 (95\% CI 0.18 to 0.30) BMI-SDS points from the beginning of the inpatient stay through the first year was found, but no group difference at the one-year follow-up (mean difference 0.02; 95\% CI -0.04 to 0.07). We also observed an increase in quality of life scores, intake of healthy food and exercise for both groups, without differences between groups (ITT and PPA). Thus, while the inpatient treatment proved highly effective, additional parent training did not lead to better results in long-term weight maintenance or to better psychosocial well-being compared to written psycho-educational material. Further research should focus on subgroups to answer the question of differential treatment effects.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WarschburgerKroeller2012,
  author    = {Warschburger, Petra and Kr{\"o}ller, Katja},
  title     = {"Childhood overweight and obesity maternal perceptions of the time for engaging in child weight management"},
  series = {BMC public health},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {BMC public health},
  number    = {12},
  publisher = {BioMed Central},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {1471-2458},
  doi       = {10.1186/1471-2458-12-295},
  pages     = {8},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Background: There is an increasing awareness of the impact of parental risk perception on the weight course of the child and the parent's readiness to engage in preventive efforts, but only less is known about factors related to the parental perception of the right time for the implementation of preventive activities. The aim of this study was to examine parental perceptions of the appropriate time to engage in child weight management strategies, and the factors associated with different weight points at which mothers recognize the need for preventive actions. Methods: 352 mothers with children aged 2-10 years took part in the study. We assessed mothers' perceptions of the actual and preferred weight status of their child, their ability to identify overweight and knowledge of its associated health risks, as well as perceptions of the right time for action to prevent overweight in their child. A regression analysis was conducted to examine whether demographic and weight related factors as well as the maternal general risk perception were associated with recognizing the need to implement prevention strategies. Results: Although most of the parents considered a BMI in the 75th to 90th percentile a valid reason to engage in the prevention of overweight, 19\% of the mothers were not willing to engage in prevention until their child reached the 97th percentile. Whereas the child's sex and the identification of an elevated BMI were significant predictors for parents' recognition of the 75th percentile as right point to engage in prevention efforts, an inability to recognize physical health risks associated with overweight silhouettes emerged as a significant factor predicting which parents would delay prevention efforts until a child's BMI reached the 97th percentile. Conclusion: Parental misperceptions of overweight and associated health risks constitute unfavorable conditions for preventive actions. Feedback on the health risks associated with overweight could help increase maternal readiness for change.},
  language  = {en}
}