Effects of a randomized maintenance intervention on adiposity and metabolic risk factors in overweight minority...

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a maintenance programme (monthly newsletters vs. monthly group classes and telephone behavioural sessions) on obesity and metabolic disease risk at 1 year in overweight minority adolescents.

After a 4-month nutrition and strength training intervention, 53 overweight Latino and African-American adolescents (15.4 ± 1.1 years) were randomized into one of two maintenance groups for 8 months: monthly newsletters (n = 23) or group classes (n = 30; monthly classes + individualized behavioural telephone sessions). The following outcomes were measured at months 4 (immediately following the intense intervention) and 12: height, weight, blood pressure, body composition via BodPod™ (Life Measurement Instruments, Concord, CA, USA), lipids and glucose/insulin indices via frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test.

There were no significant group by time interactions for any of the health outcomes. There were significant time effects in several outcomes for both groups from months 4 to 12: bench press and leg press decreased by 5% and 14%, respectively (P = 0.004 & P = 0.01), fasting insulin and acute insulin response decreased by 26% and 16%, respectively (P < 0.001 & P = 0.046); while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and insulin sensitivity improved by 5% and 14% (P = 0.042 & P = 0.039).

Newsletters as opposed to group classes may suffice as follow-up maintenance programmes to decrease type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk in overweight minority adolescents.