Obesity management via diet and exercise intervention

To assess the effects of exercise and diet on obese prepubertal children, a group of subjects embarked upon a 16-week exercise programme designed to improve body composition parameters and physical fitness. This was complemented by dietary counselling and nutrition education. Subjects comprising the experimental group (n = 10) on average lost body weight, reduced the sum of four skinfold measures (P less than 0.001) and in addition, noticed a reduction in body circumference measures whilst preserving or increasing lean body mass. In contrast, there was an increase in all measures for the control group (n = 10). The present study highlights the effectiveness of an exercise programme initiated as a function of an obesity clinic in association with a home programme. An interrelated approach to weight control in obese children should include exercise, diet and behaviour modification with appropriate guidance and follow-up.