Effects of a multidisciplinary approach on the anthropometric and body composition responses of obese adolescents (Efectos de un abordaje multidisciplinario sobre las respuestas antropométricas y de composición corporal de adolescentes obesos)

Abstract

Introduction: The sedentary lifestyle in adolescence, combined with unhealthy eating habits, leads to the accumulation of body fat and the development of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs). Objective: To investigate the effects of the multidisciplinary project on the anthropometric and body composition responses of adolescents with obesity and to compare the intervention responses according to gender. Methods: forty-eight adolescents aged 12-17 years old were evaluated: [male (n = 19) and female: (n = 29)]. Body mass, height, waist (WC), hip (HC), neck (NC), arm (AC), circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured. Body mass index (BMI), BMI z-score, body fat percentage (BF%), fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), fat-free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and visceral fat were evaluated. Body composition was assessed via bioelectrical impedance InBody 570®. Data were compared via paired t-test (comparison between pre- and post-intervention between the adolescents) and a two analysis of variance (ANOVA): comparison between gender in pre- and post-interventions), both assuming pd»0.05 was performed. Results: A time effect was identified with significant reductions in body mass, WC, HC, BMI, BMI z-score, BF%, FM, and visceral fat in the post-intervention period (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were identified for NC, AC, LM, FFM, SMM, and WHR (p>0.05) after the intervention. Conclusion: Multiprofessional interventions effectively improved male and female adolescents’ anthropometric aspects and body composition. However, no differences were observed between them.