Background: Lifestyle weight loss interventions, involving a combination of diet, exercise and behavior modification represent the mainstays of childhood obesity treatment.
Objectives: To assess the long-term effects of lifestyle intervention in overweight and obese children and to identify factors associated with weight regulation.
Methods: Prospective cohort study including 179 overweight and obese children (body mass index (BMI) z-score≥1) aged 6-18 years who completed a four-month lifestyle intervention program. Outcome measures were change in BMI z-scores from initiation of intervention to follow-up.
Results: At baseline, 56/179(31.3%) patients had a BMI z-score 1.5-2 and 107(59.8%) had a BMI z-score > 2. At follow-up (mean 5.4±1.4 years), anthropometric measurements were reported in 173 participants; 109(63%) reported decrease in weight category, while 55(31.8%) reported no change in weight category (p<0.001). Lower BMI z-score at baseline and participation in sport activity at follow-up were associated with long-term maintenance or decrease in weight. Participating in additional post-intervention programs was associated with failure of weight control.
Conclusions: A short-term lifestyle intervention can produce sustained improvement in weight control, especially in overweight children. Regular physical activity is related to long-term success, while participation in an additional intervention was associated with failure of weight control.
