Attrition from paediatric weight management impacts anthropometric outcomes at 2 years, but not health-related quality of life

The study objective is to evaluate the influence of attrition from a paediatric weight management program (PWM) on health indicators over a 2-year period. In this observational study, children and youth with obesity were recruited at entry into a family-based behaviour modification PWM and had four research study visits, independent of clinic visits, over 2 years. Participants were divided into attrition groups based on length of clinic enrolment. Body composition, cardiometabolic health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed. Among 269 children enrolled, 19% had no clinic treatment visit, 16% had treatment visits only up to 6 months, 23% up to 1 year and 42% had at least one clinic visit after 1 year (No Attrition). Greater declines in BMI z-score and body fat were seen at 2 years in children with No Attrition, while improvements in HRQoL were similar for all attrition groups. Children who attended at least one treatment visit reported improved HRQoL up to 2 years, regardless of duration in clinic. In contrast, declines in body fat and BMI z-score were greater at 2 years for those with at least one visit after 1 year. Continued efforts to reduce attrition are likely to improve anthropometric health outcomes during PWM.