Does a High‐protein Diet Improve Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Children?

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a high‐protein diet on anthropometry, body composition, subjective appetite, and mood sensations in overweight and obese children attending a residential weight‐loss camp. Research Methods and Procedures: Children (120; BMI, 33.1 ± 5.5 kg/m2; age, 14.2 ± 1.9 years) were randomly assigned to either a standard or high‐protein diet group (15% vs. 22.5% protein, respectively). All children were assessed at baseline and at the end of the camp for anthropometry, body composition, blood pressure, biochemical variables (n = 27), and subjective appetite and mood sensations (n = 50). Results: Attendance at the weight‐loss camp resulted in significant improvements in most measures. Campers lost 5.5 ± 2.9 kg in body weight (p < 0.001) and 3.8 ± 5.4 kg in fat mass (p < 0.001) and reduced their BMI standard deviation score by 0.27 ± 0.1 (p < 0.001) and their waist circumference by 6.6 ± 2.8 cm (p < 0.001). Subjective sensations of hunger increased significantly over the camp duration, but no other changes in appetite or mood were observed. There were no significant differences between the two diets on any physical or subjective measures. Discussion: Weight‐loss camps are effective in assisting children to lose weight and improve on a range of health outcomes, independently of the protein content of the diet. The implications of an increase in hunger associated with weight loss needs to be considered. Further work is warranted to investigate whether higher levels of dietary protein are feasible or effective in longer‐term weight‐loss interventions of this type.

Systematic review to identify and appraise outcome measures used to evaluate childhood obesity treatment interventions (CoOR): evidence of purpose, application, validity, reliability and sensitivity

“…[56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64] Of these, one 56 tested inter-rater reliability using a tape-recorded method, with correlations ranging between 0.68 and 0.96. None of the papers assessed TRT reliability.…”

The Effect of Protein and Glycemic Index on Children's Body Composition: The DiOGenes Randomized Study

“…34 Results from the current study are not directly comparable to earlier reports. In contrast with earlier studies, 11,12,35 the current intervention did not give emphasis on weight loss, but examined how appetite regulation would affect body weight. In addition, the inclusion of normal-weight children in our sample did not allow for advice on weight loss to be provided to children.…”

“…This level of attrition approximates an earlier intervention study 35 but is higher compared with studies in which diets with varying protein content in children were examined. 11,12 Because both of these earlier studies were conducted in controlled settings, the high dropout rate in our sample may reflect the difficulties participants confront when trying to change their diet in real-life settings. Perhaps the high dropout rate also resulted in the lower-thanexpected observed effect size of 72%.…”

“…than-intended protein intake difference between the HP and LP groups. 11,12 It has been suggested that LGI diets are inversely associated with overweight when compared with HGI diets. 13,14,16,29,31 The majority of earlier studies have demonstrated this protective effect of LGI diets in children by assessing the short-term effects of LGI meals.…”

“…10 However, this has not been indicated in obese children. 11,12 Low-glycemic index (LGI) diets are also suggested to promote weight loss in adults, mainly by promoting satiety and reducing hunger. 13,14 However, the clinical usefulness of GI in weight regulation has been questioned.…”