Treatment of obese schoolchildren

61 obese schoolchildren aged seven to 15 years were treated in the Department of Paediatrics, University of Turku, Finland, in years 1976 to 1980 for their obesity. The treatment was based on diet and increased physical exercise. The duration of the treatment was two years. The children were divided into two different groups: the active group (41 children) which had ambulatory checkups very frequently (22 times) and the nonactive group (20 children) with only eight ambulatory check-ups during the treatment (p less than 0.001). The results in the active group were significantly better than in the nonactive group (p less than 0.01). Also the physical performance and the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were studied before and after treatment period. Weight reduction resulted in an increase in the physical performance to a normal level and the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism changed to a "healthier" direction.