Effect of Different Physical Activity Training Methods on Overweight Adolescents

<p class="abstract"><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> In view of the growing trend of obesity around the world, including in our country, and the effect of reduced physical activity in increasing the incidence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents and limitations of families in providing transport for their children to attend exercise classes, as well as time limitations of students in taking part in these classes, accessing appropriate methods for presenting physical activity training seems essential.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; METHODS:</strong><strong> </strong>This non-pharmacological clinical trial was performed during six months from May to November 2007 on 105 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years with obesity, randomly assigned to 3 groups of thirty-five. Nutrition and treatment behavior were the same in all groups, but physical activity training in the first group was taking part in physical activity training classes twice a week, in the second group by providing a training CD, and in the third group via face-to-face training. Before and after the intervention, anthropometric indicators were measured and recorded.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; RESULTS:</strong> Mean body mass index (BMI) of participants in group attended physical activity training classes, and in the group undergone training with CD, after the interventions was significantly lower than that before the intervention.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <p class="abstract"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Our findings demonstrated that training using CDs can also be effective in reducing BMI in overweight and obese children and adolescents as much as face-to-face education and participation in physical training classes. Extending such interventions can be effective at the community level.</p> <p class="abstract">&nbsp;</p><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody><tr><td width="35" height="12"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td><br /></td> <td>&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="abstract">&nbsp;</p> <strong>Keywords:</strong> Children, adolescents, physical activity, education, obesity, treatment

TRAINING PARENTS OR CHILDREN? WHICH IS MORE SUCCESSFUL IN CONTROLLING PASSIVE SMOKING?

&nbsp; Abstract INTRODUCTION: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been shown to have adverse health hazards for children. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of two intervention programs for controlling passive smoking in children based on their serum cotinine level. methods: In this trial, 40 children, aged 8-12 years, who were exposed to ETS were randomly assigned to two groups of equal number. In the first the parents (group P), and in the second group the children (group C) were educated about the harmful effects of passive smoking. Children's blood sample was taken for serum cotinine measurement before and after intervention in both groups. Data were analyzed by SPSSv13/win using paired t-test. results: Smoking allowed inside home decreased in both groups; however, this decrease in group C was significantly higher than in group P. Serum cotinine concentration decreased in both groups with a more prominent decrease in group C. CONCLUSIONS: Education of children can be an effective method for controlling passive smoking. This type of education can be effective for lifestyle change in the entire family. &nbsp; &nbsp; Keywords: Passive smoking, children, parent, education, prevention.</div

RESULTS OF A NON- PHARMACOLOGICAL TRIAL FOR WEIGHT LOSS OF OBESE CHILDREN-PARENTS PAIRS

Abstract &nbsp;&nbsp; BACKGROUND: Family-based interventions are the most well-established way for the treatment of childhood obesity.For being applicable and sustainable; these interventions should be assessed in different community settings. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two methods of nutritional intervention on weight loss of of obese children-parents pairs. &nbsp;&nbsp; METHODS: This 12-week non-pharmacologic trial. With one year of follow up was conducted among 120 participants (60 pairs of obese children- parents). They were randomly assigned into two groups of equal number: one group received a diet with an energy content based on the calorie requirement for height, and the other group received dietary counseling about healthy nutrition for weight loss. &nbsp;&nbsp; RESULTS: Comparison of baseline characteristics vs. one-year follow up, showed that the mean value of body mass index decreased significantly in children, but not in their parents. In addition both groups of children had favorable changes in the mean consumption frequency of the studied food groups. The difference was not significantly different between the children in these two groups.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; CONCLUSION: This study showed that dietary counseling, consisting of simple and applicable improvement in dietary habits can be integrated to the usual diet of the family, and will result in sustainable changes. Furthermore, it confirmed the efficacy and sustainability of dietary counseling for weight control of obese children but not their parents; and emphasized on the importance of healthy lifestyle establishment, from early life rather than trying to change it during adulthood. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Keywords: Children, Parents, Obesity, Weight loss, Dietary habits.</p

Can a Trial of Motivational Lifestyle Counseling be Effective for Controlling Childhood Obesity and the Associated Cardiometabolic Risk Factors?

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a simple office-based program for encouraging healthy lifestyle on controlling childhood obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods: This non-randomized 24-week lifestyle modification trial was conducted among 457 obese children and adolescents, aged 2–18 years, who had at least one cardiometabolic risk factor in addition to obesity. This trial included three components of exercise, diet education and behavior modification, with all recommendations provided by a pediatrician, two general physicians and a nurse. Instead of strict inhibitory recommendations, healthier lifestyle was encouraged. Results: Overall 448 (98.04%) of enrolled children completed the trial with a mean age of 9.6 ± 2.9 years. After the trial, the mean of anthropometric measures and cardiometabolic risk factors decreased significantly, the mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased significantly, and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome decreased from 20.8% to 1.8%. Triglycerides, LDL-C, diastolic blood pressure and WC had the highest decrease in all age groups, with the most prominent changes in the 14–18-year age group. By each -1SD decline in BMI and WC, risk factors had significant improvement. Conclusion: Motivational office-based counseling can be effective in treatment of childhood obesity and its associated cardio-metabolic risk factors. Such approach can be implemented in the primary health care system; and can be of special concern in low- and middle-income countries with limited human and financial resources. We suggest that expanding the roles of non-physician clinicians such as nurse practitioners can help to increase the amount of time available for such services

Association of the components of the metabolic syndrome with non- alcoholic fatty liver disease among normal-weight, overweight and obese children and adolescents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>This study aimed to determine the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, abnormalities of liver enzymes and sonographic fatty liver, as well as the inter-related associations in normal weight, overweight and obese children and adolescents.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 1107 students (56.1% girls), aged 6-18 years in Isfahan, Iran. In addition to physical examination, fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile and liver enzymes were determined. Liver sonography was performed among 931 participants. These variables were compared among participants with different body mass index (BMI) categories.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From lower to higher BMI category, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure increased, and HDL-cholesterol decreased significantly. Elevated ALT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were documented in respectively 4.1%, 6.6% and 9.8% of normal weight group. The corresponding figure was 9.5%, 9.8% and 9.1% in overweight group, and 16.9%, 14.9% and 10.8% in obese group, respectively. In all BMI categories, ALT increased significantly by increasing the number of the components of the metabolic syndrome. Odds ratio for elevated liver enzymes and sonographic fatty liver increased significantly with higher number of the components of the metabolic syndrome and higher BMI categories before and after adjustment for age.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Because of the interrelationship of biochemical and sonographic indexes of fatty liver with the components of the metabolic syndrome, and with increase in their number, it is suggested to determine the clinical impact of such association in future longitudinal studies.</p