[Evaluation of obesity treatment in children and adolescents (EvAKuJ Study). Role of therapeutic concept, certification, and quality indicators].

Aim: Different providers of obesity treatment in children and adolescents in Germany were compared using the following criteria: outpatient/inpatient; with/without AGA certification; good/less good quality.
Methods: A total of 1,916 patients (8-16.9 years) from 48 study centers were examined before (t0), after (t1), and at least 1 year after therapy (t2/3). Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood lipids, and psychosocial data were measured.
Results: Patients from inpatient rehabilitation centers were older and more obese. Patients from AGA-certified centers were more obese, and the completeness of comorbidity screening was higher. There were no differences in short- or long-term BMI reduction. "Good" treatment centers (classified after the UKE study 2004) did not differ from those centers not rated as "good" in weight reduction. Patients treated in "good" centers were more obese, and screening for comorbidity was better. No differences in drop out and loss to follow-up were found.
Conclusion: There were only small differences between the different groups. Pronounced differences were found between the individual treatment centers. In order to improve therapy processes and outcomes, benchmarking and quality management have to be extended.