Change in Body Fat during a Family-Based Treatment of Obesity in Children: The Relative Importance of Energy Intake and Physical Activity

Publisher： Karger

E-ISSN： 1662-4033|5|4|515-526

ISSN： 1662-4025

Source： Obesity Facts, Vol.5, Iss.4, 2012-07, pp. : 515-526

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Abstract

Objective: The aim of the current study was to examine to what extent changes in reported energy intake and physical activity predict changes in body fat during a family-based outpatient treatment of obesity in children. Methods: Total body fat (DXA), reported energy intake (4-day diet record), and physical activity (accelerometer) was measured in 99 children (age 7–12 years, mean BMI SDS = 2.99) at baseline as well as after 6 months 2 years of treatment. Repeated measures (GLM), growth modeling, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were applied in the data analyses. Results: There was significant decrease in body fat, reported energy intake, and physical activity at both follow-ups (p < 0.001) compared to baseline. Changes in reported energy intake from baseline to 6 months predicted a decrease in body fat from baseline to 6 months (β = 0.68, p < 0.001). In addition, changes in reported energy intake had a strong indirect effect on body fat at 2-year follow-up, mediated by changes in body fat from baseline to 6 months (indirect β = 0.50, p < 0.001). Changes in physical activity did not predict changes in body fat during treatment. Conclusions: Changes in reported energy intake significantly affected body fat at 6 months and indirectly predicted the amount of body fat at 2-year follow-up. The indirect effect was mediated by a decrease in body fat obtained during the first phase of treatment.