Introduction:

The objective was to analyze the modification of eating habits, lifestyles and emotional disorders in obese children (6 to 12 years of age) and their families through a motivational intervention.

Material and Methods:

Intervention study with pre- and post-intervention evaluation through Familias en Movimiento program. This program included 11 children (10 girls and 1 boy) aged 6 to 12 years who had been unsuccessfully treated with other weight loss programs. The following parameters were evaluated at the beginning and at the end: Body Mass Index (BMI), the results of the questionnaires: Mediterranean Diet and anxiety in children, and the weight and anxiety of adults after the intervention.

Results:

The BMI decreased from a median of 25.2 (interquartile range of 23.3-28.0) to 23.9 and (22.9-27.6) after the intervention, a change not statistically significant (p<0.086). Median adherence to the Mediterranean Diet increased significantly by 2.2 points (7.1 to 9.3), mainly due to the fact that more children ate breakfast (44%) and there was a decrease in the consumption of sweets and pastries industrial breakfast (22.2%). The intervention significantly reduced anxiety in children by 8.7 points. 9 of the adults participated in the initial assessment, the average weight loss was 3.6kg and the decrease in anxiety step from 45.6 to 27.3 (p=0.02).

Conclusions:

The application of the “Families in movement” program decreased the BMI, increased the score in adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and decreased the anxiety in the children. In addition the weight and anxiety were reduced in the adults who accompanied the program to the children.

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