Markers of metabolic syndrome in obese children before and after 1-year lifestyle intervention program

• Published in: European journal of nutrition Vol. 50; no. 6; pp. 391 - 400
• Main Authors: Pedrosa, C., Oliveira, B. M. P. M., Albuquerque, I., Simões-Pereira, C., Vaz-de-Almeida, M. D., Correia, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.09.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Behavior Therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Body Height; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Child; Child Behavior; Children; Diet, Reducing; Dyslipidemias - epidemiology; Dyslipidemias - etiology; Dyslipidemias - prevention & control; Exercise; Exercise (programs); Family Health; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hypertension - epidemiology; Hypertension - etiology; Hypertension - prevention & control; Life Style; Lifestyle; Lipids; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Metabolic Syndrome - etiology; Metabolic Syndrome - physiopathology; Metabolic Syndrome - prevention & control; Nutrition; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - diet therapy; Obesity - physiopathology; Obesity - therapy; Original Contribution; Overweight - diet therapy; Overweight - therapy; Patient Dropouts; Portugal - epidemiology; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Waist Circumference; Weight; Obesity; Children; Nutrition; Metabolic syndrome; Lifestyle intervention; Endocrinopathy; Human; Physical exercise; Food habit; Nutrition disorder; Metabolic diseases; Cardiovascular disease; Feeding; Child; Nutritional status; Life style
• ISSN: 1436-6207; 1436-6215
• DOI: 10.1007/s00394-010-0148-1

Purpose Excess weight may be related to the development of adverse cardiometabolic risk factors in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a lifestyle intervention program (nutrition and exercise counseling) on anthropometric parameters and metabolic syndrome (MS) components in Portuguese overweight/obese children. Methods A total of 83 overweight/obese children aged 7–9 years were assigned to a 1-year individual or group-based treatment (GT); 61 children (z-score BMI (zBMI): 1.93 ± 0.28; 27 boys and 34 girls) completed the program. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline, at 6 months and at 1 year. Results The overweight/obese children, compared to normal-weight ones, presented significantly higher blood pressure, total-cholesterol, total-cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) ratio, triglycerides, Apolipoprotein B and C-reactive protein levels, while HDL and Apolipoprotein A-I were significantly lower. At baseline, the prevalence of MS was 16.4% in overweight/obese and 0% in normal-weight children. The number of components of MS was significantly higher in children with higher zBMI. Lifestyle intervention led to a significant improvement in zBMI, waist circumference/height ratio, HDL, triglycerides, Apolipoprotein A-I, and Apolipoprotein B levels. The prevalence of MS decreased to 14.8%. The GT intervention seems to be more successful, with a significant decrease in zBMI and an increase in HDL and a lower drop-out rate. Conclusions Overweight/obese children have multiple risk factors associated with the MS. Lifestyle intervention, both individual and group-based treatment, led to an improvement in the degree of overweight/obesity and in MS components.