Project Title

Family care intervention to improve childhood cardiometabolic health: An AI-assisted approach to early prevention

Background

Children with overweight and obesity are at high risk of early onset cardiometabolic disease and early signs like hypertension, dyslipidemia and impaired glucose tolerance are already present. Despite lifestyle interventions, long-term effects remain limited, and family-based programs often show only transient benefits. 

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of the Family Care program in improving cardiometabolic health of children living with overweight or obesity compared to standard care. 

Methods

A randomized controlled trial involving 200 families living with overweight and obesity. Families are randomized in a 1:1 ratio for 52 weeks to:  

• Family care: patient education to physical activity, sleep and dietary patterns. AI-assisted feedback from objective data. Transient low-dosage obesity medication for parents with BMI ≥30 kg/m² or  
• Standard care: written recommendations on physical activity, dietary intake and sleep. Transient low-dosage obesity medication for parents with BMI ≥30 kg/m². 

The primary endpoint is change in the children’s metabolic z-score, an age and sex-adjusted score that estimates future cardiometabolic risk.  

Preliminary results

In our recent study we found that 77 % of young adults aged 18-28 years with persistent childhood-onset obesity presented with metabolic syndrome highlighting the need for early and effective interventions to improve health in children at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease.