SHAPEDOWN is Family-Based
Pediatric obesity research has shown that family-based treatment
is effective even at 10-year follow-up. Treatments that don't target
the family have no long term significant effects. SHAPEDOWN is family-based
and targets overweight, nutrition and activity in both child and parents.
Developmentally
Sensitive
There are four program levels - Level 1 (6 to 8 years), Level
2 (9 or 10 years), Level 3 (11 or 12 years) and Level 4 (13 to 18
years). Each level is sensitive to the physical. emotional, cognitive
and social needs of that age group.
Addresses
Underlying Factors
SHAPEDOWN incorporates into obesity treatment a broad range of
family therapy and psychoeducational techniques to address underlying
psychosocial correlates of the child or adolescent's weight. Included
are problem solving, assertive and emotionally expressive communication
and parenting skills including limit-setting and nurturing techniques.
In addition, cognitive therapy, stress management techniques and body
image therapies are used. Together these techniques create the intimacy
and safety children need to stop their excessive appetites for food
and inactive pursuits.
Protective
SHAPEDOWN is so gentle and protective that almost any child or
family could benefit from participating. All potentially harmful or
distressing techniques are avoided including rigid or low calorie
diets. Weight loss is gradual, ranging from weight maintenance while
growing, to no more than one pound per week loss.
Preventive
SHAPEDOWN's dietary recommendations are consistent with the U.S.
Recommended Dietary Allowances and the National Cholesterol Education
Project Guidelines. The recommendations for physical activity include
increasing daily endurance activities, enhancing overall activity
levels through chores, interests and social activities and decreasing
sedentary pursuits such as television viewing. Additional food behaviors
targeted include eating regular meals and eating in response to hunger
and satiety.
Sensitive
Respect for the individual and the family is inherent in SHAPEDOWN.
The whole child is addressed, rather than just the obesity. Each level
stresses the psychosocial issues pertinent at that stage of development.
SHAPEDOWN integrates ethnic, cultural and economic differences into
its content. The program workbooks include examples of a broad range
of family types including single parent families and blended families.
In addition, multiple instructional modalities are used to enhance
the program's utility with learning disabled children.
Effective
SHAPEDOWN VALIDATION RESULTS
(As published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association,
Vol. 87, No. 3)
SHAPEDOWN was
shown to produce significant long term outcomes in a controlled study
of 66 adolescents followed for 15 months in diverse sites in California.
Subjects were randomly assigned to test or control groups. The test
group received the group application of SHAPEDOWN. The con trol group
received no treatment. There were no significant differences between
groups in any of the variables studied at the beginning of the study.
The data were analyzed using paired t-tests. The SHAPEDOWN group at
the end of treatment (3 months) and at one year follow-up (15 months)
significantly decreased relative weight and significantly improved
weight related behavior, self-esteem, depression and knowledge. The
control group made no significant improvement in any of these variables
except self-esteem. This study demonstrates the short and long-term
effectiveness of SHAPEDOWN.
 
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