Weight Change in Obese Girls & Boys
Weight Loss Study Aim
The study was designed to evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary program
on children and adolescents' weight control. This was a retrospective
study regarding changes in relative weight of all patients treated regularly
in an out-patient care public service between January 1992 and December
1993. Subjects included 198 children and adolescents (108 girls and 90
boys; mean age: 9.25y; mean body mass index (BMI): 24.26 kg/m2, range
19.1-40.31). Anthropometric data collected at the visits were obtained
until June 30 1994. BMI compared to reference data was used. Dual Photon
X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) was used for 64 patients, to determine percent
body fat.
Weight Loss Study Results
Relative weight at the last visit was significantly lower when compared
with initial relative weight for the whole sample. Significantly better
outcome of relative weight was obtained when six or more visits occurred
for the whole sample, and for girls when the days' interval between visits
was shorter than 52 d. Variables such as percent body fat, body shape
at the first visit, family obesity pattern, length of obesity and pubertal
stage, did not significantly influence the outcome of relative weight
for the subjects during the treatment.
Weight Loss Study Conclusions
Results obtained indicated that good outcomes can be obtained in a program
using nutrition education focused on small modifications of eating habits
in order to avoid excess energy intake. The best predictors of weight
improvement for children and adolescents participating in the program
were the higher frequency of visits and shorter intervals between them.
Source: Valverde MA, Patin RV, Oliveira
FL, Lopez FA, Vitolo MR. Department of Pediatrics, Sao Paulo Federal University,
Brazil. 1998
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