Initial impact assessment of the current PAIDOS clinical care model for school-age children living with obesity in Mexico

Salvador Villalpando-Carrión, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
M. José Adame-Vivanco, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
Daniela Felgueres-Nacach, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
Montserrat Remís-Colín, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
Jaime Fuentes-Balderrama, University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work, Austin, Texas, USA

Background: Given the increasing prevalence and public health burden of childhood obesity in Mexico, the development of multidisciplinary evidence-based clinical care models is urgent. The PAIDOS clinical care model was active from 2011 to 2013 in the Mexican Children’s Hospital. This model was redesigned and launched in 2015 as a more comprehensive and holistic protocol. Methods: This updated model consists of six in-hospital sessions aimed at engaging the nutritional, physical, psychological, and family elements associated with childhood obesity. Results: Participants in this model were 119 children and adolescents from 7 to 16 years of age ( _X = 11.91, standard deviation = 2.32, 66% male, with a body mass index [BMI] ≥ 95^th percentile). Repeated measure analysis of covariances exhibits significant reductions in BMI at post-test, as well as maintenance at the 6-month follow-up. Negative self-esteem presented a significant decrease at post-test, while other dimensions of depression displayed significant changes only for girls. Conclusions: The current PAIDOS clinical care program shows promise as it is effective in reducing and maintaining BMI. Future directions are discussed.

Keywords: Childhood obesity. Body mass index. Mexico. Hospital. Depression.