Two-year follow-up of the 'Families for Health' programme for the treatment of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity28
BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of @entity28 in @entity1 in the UK warrants continuing public health attention. 'Families for Health' is a family-based group programme for the treatment of @entity28 . Significant improvements in body mass index (BMI) z-score (-0.21, 95% CI: -0.35 to -0.07, P = 0.007) and other health outcomes were seen in @entity1 at a 9-month follow-up. AIM: To undertake a 2-year follow-up of families who attended 'Families for Health' in Coventry, to assess long-term outcomes and costs. METHODS: 'Families for Health' is a 12-week programme with parallel groups for parents and @entity1 , addressing parenting skills, healthy lifestyles and emotional well-being. The intervention was delivered at a leisure centre in Coventry, England, with 27 overweight or @entity28 @entity1 aged 7-13 years (18 @entity1 , 9 @entity1 ) and their parents, from 21 families. A 'before-and-after' evaluation was completed with 19 (70%) @entity1 followed up at 2 years. The primary outcome was change in BMI z-score from baseline; secondary outcomes were @entity1 's quality of life, parent- @entity1 relationships, eating/activity habits and parents' mental health. Costs to deliver the intervention and to families were recorded. RESULTS: Mean change in BMI z-score from baseline was -0.23 (95% CI: -0.42 to -0.03, P = 0.027) at the 2-year follow-up and eight (42%) @entity1 had a clinically significant reduction in BMI z-score. Significant improvements were seen in @entity1 's quality of life and eating habits in the home, while there were sustained reductions in unhealthy foods and sedentary behaviour. Fruit and vegetable consumption and parent's mental health were not significantly different at 2 years. Costs of the programme were   517 per family (  402 per @entity1 ), equivalent to   2543 per unit reduction in BMI z-score. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in BMI z-score and certain other outcomes associated with the 'Families for Health' programme were sustained at the 2-year follow-up. 'Families for Health' is a promising new @entity28 intervention, and a randomized controlled trial is now indicated.
