Related Experiment Videos
Long-term weight control in obese children: persistence of treatment outcome and metabolic changes
1Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, Finland.
Insights
Successful weight loss in obese children led to sustained improvements in cholesterol and insulin levels over five years. Most children maintained their reduced weight, indicating long-term health benefits.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Obesity Research
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant health concern with potential long-term metabolic consequences.
- Maintaining weight loss in obese children presents a considerable challenge.
- Understanding the long-term effects of successful weight reduction is crucial for pediatric health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term maintenance of weight loss in obese children.
- To assess associated clinical and biochemical changes over a five-year period.
- To identify factors associated with successful weight management in pediatric obesity.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 48 obese children (relative weight >120%) and 29 normal-weight controls.
- Active treatment for one year followed by two years of observation, with a total five-year follow-up.
- Definition of successful weight loss as a ≥10% decrease in relative weight after two years.
Main Results:
- 49% (22/48) of obese children achieved successful weight loss, with a 24.7% decrease in relative weight.
- Successful weight losers maintained lower body weight and normal relative height over five years.
- Improvements in HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL-C to total cholesterol ratio, triglycerides, and insulin levels were sustained.
- 14 of 22 successful children maintained their reduced weight up to five years.
Conclusions:
- Initial success in pediatric weight loss is associated with long-term favorable changes in lipid profiles and reduced hyperinsulinemia.
- Sustained weight reduction in obese children can lead to lasting metabolic health benefits.
- A majority of initially successful pediatric weight losers can maintain their achieved weight loss long-term.
Abstract:
Maintenance of achieved weight loss and clinical and biochemical changes were studied in 48 obese children (relative weight greater than 120%) over a three-year period after active treatment for one year and initial observation for another year. The control group comprised 29 normal weight children (relative weight less than 120%). The children were 6-16 years old at the beginning of the study. The successful weight loser was defined as a child with a decrease of at least 10% in relative weight at the end of the initial two year study period. Twenty-two subjects (49%) were treated successfully while 23 children were unsuccessful. Three obese children dropped out of the study. In successful children the relative body weight decreased by 24.7% (P less than 0.001) during the initial two-year period, and the lower body weight was maintained during the subsequent observation. The relative height also decreased significantly in the successful subjects but was still normal at the end of the study. Success in weight reduction was associated with increased HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, increased ratio of HDL-C to total cholesterol and reduced concentrations of triglyceride and plasma insulin. All of these changes were maintained throughout the five year study period. In normal weight children concentrations of serum lipids and plasma insulin remained unchanged during the five years. In conclusion, initial success in weight loss was associated with long-term favourable changes in the serum lipid profile and reduced hyperinsulinemia. A majority of the initially successful weight losers (14 of 22) managed to maintain their reduced weight up to five years.