Dietary habits and metabolic response improve in obese children whose mothers received an intervention to promote healthy eating: Randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background: Unhealthy eating habits inside and outside the home lead to developing obesity, leading to clinical and metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and chronic degenerative diseases, which are the leading causes of death in adult life. The present study compared changes in dietary habits, behaviors and metabolic profiles of obese children whose mothers attended at the hospital to group sessions, with those who received the usual nutritional consultation.Methods: Randomized clinical trial, 177 mother/obese child pairs participated, 90 in the intervention group (IG) and 87 in the control group (CG). The intervention group attended six group education sessions to promote healthy eating and 87 received the usual nutritional consultation, both groups were followed up for three months. Frequency of food consumption, behaviors during feeding in the house and metabolic profile was evaluated. Data was compared using Student's t or X2.Results: The GI reduced the filling of their dishes (p = 0.009), forcing the children to finish meals (p = 0.003) and food substitution (p < 0.001), moreover increased the consumption of roasted foods (p = 0.046), fruits (p = 0.002) and vegetables (p < 0.001). In the IG insulin levels (-1.4) and HOMA-IR (-6.2) (p = 0.027 and p = 0.035) decreased with difference between groups.Conclusions: The educational intervention improved some eating habits at home, as well as insulin and HOMA-IR levels; this can be considered as an alternative for managing child obesity.Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04374292 (Date assigned: May 5, 2020). Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04374292