How much can parents make a difference in treatment? Small changes at home can make a big difference in your child’s weight.

In a New York study called “Parent weight change as a predictor of child weight change in family-based behavioral obesity treatment”, 142 obese 8-12 year olds were studied over 2 years—a very good study.

Family-based behavioral treatments for obese youth are among the most successful for pediatric obesity.

These families were provided with an educational program based on the Traffic Light diet—see this page for more, and the full study here, if you’re an AMA subscriber. The bottom line: “…youth benefit the most from parents who lose the most weight in family-based behavioral treatments.”

Sometimes the most difficult medicine is our own. If you’re a parent and need help in your weight loss for your children, Dr. La Puma can help: in person or long-distance.