Dieting: the results of a "user-friendly" programme.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutrition Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Juvenile obesity is a growing concern in industrialized nations.
• Obese children and adolescents often present with elevated body mass index (BMI) exceeding 130% of the P50 BMI for age.
• Dietary habits in children and adolescents require assessment to understand contributing factors to obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a hypocaloric balanced diet in treating obese children and adolescents.
• To compare dietary intake patterns between different age groups of obese children and adolescents.
• To assess the long-term success rate of a dietary intervention for juvenile obesity.

Main Methods:

• A dietary program was implemented for 635 obese children and adolescents.
• Daily food intake was recorded using a 3-day diary to calculate caloric and nutrient consumption.
• A hypocaloric balanced diet was prescribed, providing 65% of recommended dietary allowances (RDAs), with specific macronutrient distribution (30% lipids, 50% carbohydrates, 20% proteins).

Main Results:

• Children aged 6-12 years (group 1) had higher caloric intake (% RDAs) than adolescents aged 12-17 years (group 2).
• Group 2 exhibited higher fat intake and a lower polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratio.
• Fiber and water consumption were inadequate and similar in both groups.
• While long-term follow-up was better in group 1, success rates (excess BMI reduction) were comparable at 6 months and proportionally higher in group 2 after one year.

Conclusions:

• A hypocaloric balanced diet is an effective therapeutic approach for juvenile obesity.
• Dietary intervention success rates vary by age group, with adolescents showing proportionally greater long-term benefits.
• This simple dietary intervention can be promoted by healthcare professionals to combat rising juvenile obesity rates.