Short-term outcomes of community-based adolescent weight management: The Loozit® Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Loozit^®Study is a randomised controlled trial investigating extended support in a 24 month community-based weight management program for overweight to moderately obese, but otherwise healthy, 13 to 16 year olds.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This pre-post study examines the two month outcomes of the initial Loozit^®group intervention received by both study arms. Adolescents (n = 151; 48% male) and their parents separately attended seven weekly group sessions focused on lifestyle modification. At baseline and two months, adolescents' anthropometry, blood pressure, and fasted blood sample were assessed. Primary outcomes were two month changes in body mass index (BMI) z-score and waist-to-height-ratio (WHtR). Secondary outcomes included changes in metabolic profile, self-reported dietary intake/patterns, physical and sedentary activities, psychological characteristics and social status. Changes in outcome measures were assessed using paired samples t-tests for continuous variables or McNemar's test for dichotomous categorical variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 151 adolescents who enrolled, 130 (86%) completed the two month program. Among these 130 adolescents (47% male), there was a statistically significant (P < 0.01) reduction in mean [95% CI] BMI (0.27 kg/m²[0.41, 0.13]), BMI z-score (0.05 [0.06, 0.03]), WHtR (0.02 [0.03, 0.01]), total cholesterol (0.14 mmol/L [0.24, 0.05]) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.12 mmol/L [0.21, 0.04]). There were improvements in all psychological measures, the majority of the dietary intake measures, and some physical activities (P < 0.05). Time spent watching TV and participating in non-screen sedentary activities decreased (P < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The Loozit^®program may be a promising option for stabilizing overweight and improving various metabolic factors, psychological functioning and lifestyle behaviors in overweight adolescents in a community setting.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry</p> <p><a href="http://www.anzctr.org.au/trial_view.aspx?ID=1277">ACTRNO12606000175572</a></p

The impact of Curtin University's Activity, Food and Attitudes Program on physical activity, sedentary time and fruit, vegetable and junk food consumption among overweight and obese adolescents: A waitlist controlled trial

Background: To determine the effects of participation in Curtin University's Activity, Food and Attitudes Program (CAFAP), a community-based, family-centered behavioural intervention, on the physical activity, sedentary time, and healthy eating behaviours of overweight and obese adolescents. Methods: In this waitlist controlled clinical trial in Western Australia, adolescents (n = 69, 71% female, mean age 14.1 (SD 1.6) years) and parents completed an 8-week intervention followed by 12 months of telephone and text message support. Assessments were completed at baseline, before beginning the intervention, immediately following the intervention, and at 3-, 6-, and 12- months follow-up. The primary outcomes were physical activity and sedentary time assessed by accelerometers and servings of fruit, vegetables and junk food assessed by 3-day food records. Results: During the intensive 8-week intervention sedentary time decreased by −5.1 min/day/month (95% CI: −11.0, 0.8) which was significantly greater than the rate of change during the waitlist period (p = .014). Moderate physical activity increased by 1.8 min/day/month (95% CI: −0.04, 3.6) during the intervention period, which was significantly greater than the rate of change during the waitlist period (p = .041). Fruit consumption increased during the intervention period (monthly incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.3, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.56) and junk food consumption decreased (monthly IRR 0.8, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.94) and these changes were different to those seen during the waitlist period (p = .004 and p = .020 respectively). Conclusions: Participating in CAFAP appeared to have a positive influence on the physical activity, sedentary and healthy eating behaviours of overweight and obese adolescents and many of these changes were maintained for one year following the intensive intervention. Trial Registration: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12611001187932

Fatores associados à retenção de peso pós-parto em uma coorte de mulheres, 2005-2007 Factors associated with post-partum weight retention in a cohort of women, 2005-2007

OBJETIVO: investigar fatores associados à retenção de peso pós-parto. MÉTODOS: estudo de coorte com 104 gestantes recrutadas em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde no município do Rio de Janeiro, da 8ª a 13ª semana de gestação e acompanhadas até aproximadamente 55 dias pós-parto. As variáveis incluíram informações sócio-demográficas, econômicas, bioquímicas, antropométricas e reprodutivas. A retenção de peso pós-parto (diferença entre o peso pós-parto e o peso pré-gestacional) foi utilizada como variável dependente. RESULTADOS: a média de peso retido foi 3,2 kg ± 3,7 kg. As mulheres com ganho de peso gestacional (GPG) excessivo retiveram 5,0 kg ± 3,9 em comparação a 3,6 kg ± 3,0 em mulheres com GPG adequado e 1,4 kg ± 3,1 para as com GPG insuficiente. O GPG e o Índice de Massa corporal (IMC) pré-gestacional mantiveram associação significativa com a retenção de peso no modelo final. Observou-se que a cada quilo de peso ganho na gestação, quase 50% ficaram retidos no pós-parto (&#946; = 0,494; p<0,001) e a cada 1,0 kg/m² a menos no IMC pré-gestacional correspondeu a uma retenção de aproximadamente 150g (&#946; = -0,149;p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: o GPG está positivamente e o IMC pré-gestacional inversamente associado à retenção de peso pós-parto. Orientações nutricionais sobre o controle do ganho ponderal podem ajudar a minimizar a incidência de obesidade entre mulheres no pós-parto.<br>OBJECTIVE: to investigate factors associated with post-partum weight retention. METHODS: a cohort study with 104 recruited pregnant women in the 8th to 13th week of gestation was carried out at Basic Health Unit in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro and the women were accompanied until around 55 days post-partum. The variables included socio-demographic, economic, biochemical, anthropometric and reproductive data. Post-partum weight retention (the difference between postpartum andpre-gestational weight) was used as the dependent variable. RESULTS: the mean weight retention was 3.2 kg ± 3.7 kg. Women with excessive gestational weight gain retained 5.0 kg ± 3.9 in comparison to 3.6 kg ± 3.0 in women with adequate gestational weight gain and 1.4 kg ± 3.1 compared to those with inadequate gestational weight gain. The gestational weight gain and pre-gestational body mass index continued to show a significant association with weight retention in the final model. It was found that for every kilogram of weight gain during gestation, almost 50% was retained post-partum (&#946; = 0.494; p<0.001) and every 1.0 kg/m² less in pre-gestational BMI corresponded to a retention of approximately 150g (&#946; = -0.149; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: gestational weight gain is positively associated with post-partum weight retention, while pre-gestational BMI is inversely associated with the dependent variable. Nutritional advice on weight control may help minimize the incidence of obesity in women during post-partum

Sociodemographic and behavioural correlates of weight status among women with children living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods

Objective: To investigate sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics associated with weight status among women with children living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods.Methods and procedures: A total of 1680 women aged 18&ndash;46 years, living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods with dependent children (aged 0&ndash;18 years), provided self-report data on height and weight and a range of sociodemographic and behavioural (for example, dietary intake, physical activity and time spent sitting) characteristics.Results: Half of the women were classified as having a healthy weight (body mass index=18.5&ndash;25). Bivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses indicated that a healthy weight status was associated with a range of sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics. In a multivariable model, a healthy weight status among women was associated with being younger and unmarried, speaking a language other than English at home, having a medium or high level of education, and a partner with a high level of education, having a high household income, spending more time engaged in leisure-time physical activity and less time spent sitting, and having a lower consumption of soft drink.Discussion: The present findings highlight that a considerable proportion of women with children living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods manage to maintain a healthy weight. Acknowledging the cross-sectional nature of this study, strategies aimed at helping women with children in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas to maintain their weight should focus on increasing physical activity, and reducing sitting time and soft drink consumption.<br /