The effects of a children's summer camp programme on weight loss, with a 10 month follow-up

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term effects of a multidisciplinary approach involving structured fun-type skill learning physical activities in the treatment of obese and overweight children. DESIGN: A longitudinal investigation incorporating repeated measurements before and after the 8 week intervention and after the 44 week follow-up period. METHODS: The camp programme (Massachusetts, USA) utilised structured fun-based skill learning physical activities, moderate dietary restriction and behaviour modi®cation. The primary aims of the intervention were to reduce body mass and promote the maintenance of the reduction in body mass using an alternative to standard exercise prescription. SUBJECTS: One-hundred and ninety-four children (64 boys and 130 girls, aged 12.6 AE 2.5 y) enrolled at a summer weight loss camp, of which 102 children (38 boys and 64 girls aged 13.6 AE 2.4 y) returned 1 y later. MEASUREMENTS: On commencement of the programme all children were assessed for body mass and stature. At follow-up, data was available on 102 subjects for body mass and stature. RESULTS: Over the 8 week intervention signi®cant reductions (P 0.00) in body mass were obtained. During the 44 week follow-up signi®cant increases (P 0.00) were noted in body mass, body mass index (BMI) and stature, but as expected there were large variations in the responses. One year after the initial measures had been taken mean body mass and BMI were lower than at the start of the intervention, BMI signi®cantly so (week 0, 32.9 AE 7.4 kgam 2 ; week 8 29.1 AE 6.5 kgam 2 ; week 52, 30.05 AE 7.04 kgam 2 ); (P 0.00). Stature increased signi®cantly (week 0, 1.58 AE 0.12 m; week 52, 1.64 AE 0.11 m) (P 0.00) during this period, demonstrating a reduction in mean body mass over a 1 y period whilst subjects continued to increase in stature. When changes in BMI are analysed with the use of standard scores, there is a non-signi®cant increase (P 0.07) in BMI during the follow-up phase and 89% of children had a lower BMI than at week 0. CONCLUSIONS: These ®ndings suggest that the use of a structured fun-based skill learning programme may provide an alternative method of exercise prescription to help children prolong the effects of the 8 week intervention. Further investigations will help identify the key factors that are necessary for long-term lifestyle modi®cation.

Effects of a multidisciplinary weight loss intervention on body composition in obese adolescents

“…16 Our data are consistent with the results from previous studies using exercise combined with a balanced diet. 8,9,[23][24][25][26][27] Caloric restriction may induce negative side effects such as growth retardation. Therefore, a weight loss program in obese children and adolescents must pay attention to ensure lasting growth and development.…”

“…As such a multidisciplinary approach proves to be difficult to reach in the usual environment, in-patient units have been designed to help adolescents suffering the most severe forms of obesity. 7,8 Managing weight loss in obese adolescents actually requires paying special attention to potential negative side effects since several studies reported a lost of lean body mass following a low-calorie diet. 9 The dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) has been validated as an efficient tool to assess the total and regional body composition in vivo, 10 in adults 11 and in children.…”

Children's weight-loss camps: psychological benefit or jeopardy?

“…Previous outcome data on the effectiveness of a US-based 8-week programme showed that it was successful in producing significant decreases in BMI and overall body fat. 23 These researchers found that although participants regained some of the weight lost, BMI increase was not statistically significant and did not produce a return to initial mean levels. At 1-y follow-up, BMI remained significantly lower than at the beginning of the intervention.…”

Cardiac autonomic regulation as a predictor for childhood obesity intervention success

“…Treatments typically aim to support changes in lifestyle, with the most successful tending to include exercise, diet and behavioural components(3) Community-based treatments are typically a first-line measure, but extent of weight-loss is often relatively small(3); residential weight management camps provide an alternative, more intensive intervention to support children to change their lifestyle to achieve a healthier body weight (4,5). Weight-management camps tend to induce greater weight loss than community interventions (4), but studies have revealed considerable between-subject variability in extent of long-term post-intervention weight management success (6). This may be partly explained by variation between attendees' levels of impulsivity.…”