A pilot randomized trial of a multifaceted pediatric obesity care model found strong family engagement and highlighted the importance of psychosocial support in treatment.
Research presented at ObesityWeek 2025 outlined early findings from a pilot randomized trial evaluating a comprehensive obesity care model for young children. Thao-Ly Phan, MD, MPH, a pediatrician and medical director of the Nemours Healthy Weight and Wellness Clinic, described the model’s development and feasibility outcomes.
The program, supported through the Nemours REACH Center, was created with substantial input from parents and community partners. “We developed a comprehensive obesity care model, and we got input actually from parents and community organizations and refined the care model to really meet their needs,” Phan said.
The resulting intervention, called MICCO, includes monthly multidisciplinary visits, app-based tools, ongoing support from community health workers, and monthly community events focused on healthy lifestyle practices.
A total of 59 families with young children with obesity participated in the pilot randomized trial. According to Phan, “families, especially Hispanic families, were more engaged in the study if they received MICCO.”
The MICCO model was designed to combine clinical, behavioral, and social support resources. Its core elements included:
Families receiving MICCO highlighted several strengths. Phan noted that “what they really liked was its emphasis on addressing their psychosocial needs, and then also the rapport that they established with the care team.”
Despite the breadth of components, the study showed that families used the intervention in different ways. “Some people may really like technology and like using the app. Some people may really like community events… I will say one aspect of MICCO that everyone liked kind of universally, were visits with the care team,” she said.
The study was primarily designed to assess feasibility and acceptability. It was not powered to detect significant differences in weight outcomes, although early trends were noted. Phan explained, “children who received MICCO tended to have a decrease in their weight status, whereas children who received standard of care tended to have an increase in their weight status over 6 months.”
Family engagement emerged as a meaningful outcome. “The fact that our families who received MICCO tended to stay in the study longer… I think, is actually really meaningful,” said Phan. Hispanic families in particular remained enrolled nearly 100 days longer than those receiving standard care.
Families also reported improvements beyond weight. According to Phan, “one of the main things that came across was how MICCO actually helped with a child's mental health and with family dynamics.”
Phan emphasized that tailoring treatment to individual family needs is essential. Barriers varied widely among participants—some found telehealth and app-based tools convenient, while those in rural areas faced challenges with technology and transportation. “One of the things we did with this study… is just listen to families, like get feedback, be willing to change,” she said.
Addressing psychosocial needs was foundational. “Obesity really impacts a child's emotional and social health, and for us, that's really important to make sure that we're taking that into consideration when we're providing treatment,” said Phan.
The integrated model included access to psychologists and community health workers to support mental health concerns, food insecurity, and care navigation. For Hispanic families, having a bilingual community health worker was described as “critical to making sure… that they got to the appointments that they needed to or that they access the resources that they needed.”
Phan concluded that expanding psychosocial and care-navigation resources may require additional investment but can meaningfully improve engagement and overall well-being.
Disclosure
Phan reports no relevant disclosures.
Reference
Pilot RCT of a Psychosocial-Focused Intervention for Families of Children with Obesity. Abstract. Presented at: Obesity Week 2025. November 4-7, 2025. Atlanta, Georgia.
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