Hábitos de estilo de vida en adolescentes con sobrepeso y obesidad: Estudio Obescat

Abstract

Objective: to assess lifestyle habits and efficacy of a lifestyle intervention to reduce body mass index (BMI) in adolescents. Methods: one-year randomized control trial, carried out in 48 pediatrc primary care units of Catalonia. A random sample of 174 overweight and obese adolescents 10-14 years old was taken, 87 allocated to intervention group (IG) and 87 to control (CG). IG received baseline lifestyle counseling (food and exercise habits) plus 5 interventions at months 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12. CG received baseline intervention plus final control. Main outcome measures were: change in lifestyle habits, and of BMI and waist circumference (WC). Results: mean (SD) age was 11.81 (1.21) and 50% were female. A total of 125 participants (71.8%) completed follow-up at 12 months. Body mass index Z-scores showed a significant reduction in both study groups (p < 0.001), reducing from a mean (SD) initial value of 2.35 (0.46) to final value of 2.06 (0.60), which represents approximately 12% reduction of baseline Z-score, without showing differences between study groups. The waist circumference Z-score also was statistically reduced in both study groups: IG from mean 2.06 to 1.77; and CG from mean 2.06 to 1.82 (p < 0.001). Counseling improved many food habits (highlighting increase of fruit, decrease of candy and habit to pick-on food when bored) but physical activities decreased instead of increasing (p = 0.002). Conclusions: lifestyle counseling was effective to reduce body mass index and waist circumference in adolescents, regardless of intensity. Counseling improved food habits, but not exercise.