Determinants of Parents' and Adolescents' Motivation Before Pediatric Weight Management-Data From the STARKIDS Cohort.

Abstract

Pediatric obesity (OB) treatments show small effects and high dropout rates, potentially due to low motivation in participating families. Motivation prior to a weight management program is referred to as "readiness to change" (RTC). Understanding RTC is key to improving outcomes. Previous studies observed determinants for RTC, but results are heterogenous and data about adolescents' RTC are lacking. Baseline data of the STARKIDS trial were used to find determinants of RTC in (a) adolescents (n = 125), (b) their caretakers (n = 185), and (c) caretakers of younger children (n = 325). Potential determinants were sociodemographic variables, weight, general quality of life (QoL), OB-related QoL, self-efficacy, and body image of caretakers and children. Pearson correlations (t-tests and ANOVA) and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. The RTC of adolescents and of both groups of caretakers was determined by adolescents'/children's OB-related QoL. The RTC of caretakers of younger children was also determined by children's BMI-SDS_LMS. OB-related QoL plays a major role in determining adolescents' and caretakers' motivation prior to weight management. In all groups, most significant determinants refer to corresponding family members, showing that the mutual influence is large. German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) DRKS000228 13 (acknowledged primary register of the World Health Organization).