Comparative Costs of a Parent‐Only and Parent and Child Treatment for Children with Overweight or Obesity
Kerri N. Boutelle, David R. Strong, June Liang, Kyung E. Rhee, Cheryl L. Rock, Denise E. Wilfley, Leonard H. Epstein, Scott J. Crow
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Models such as family-based treatment (FBT), delivered to both the parent and child, are considered the most efficacious intervention for children with obesity. However, recent research suggests that parent-based treatment (PBT; or parent-only treatment) is noninferior to FBT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the comparative costs of the FBT and PBT models. METHODS: A total of 150 children with overweight and obesity and their parents were randomized to one of two 6-month treatment programs (FBT or PBT). Data was collected at baseline, during treatment, and following treatment, and and trial-based analyses of the costs were conducted from a health care sector perspective and a limited societal perspective. RESULTS: Results suggest that PBT, compared with FBT, had lower costs per parent-child dyad from the health care sector perspective (PBT = $2,886; FBT = $3,899) and from a limited societal perspective (PBT = $3,231; FBT = $4,279). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a PBT intervention has lower costs and is noninferior to an FBT intervention for both child and parent weight loss.