Bright Bodies Weight Program Lowers Diabetes Risk, BMI in Obese Kids

A new study has found that weight management program cuts diabetes risk and is more effective at decreasing weight, body fat, body mass index (BMI) in overweight children.

A family-based weight management program developed by researchers at Yale School of Medicine was more successful at plummeting weight, body fat, BMI and insulin sensitivity than traditional clinic-based weight counselling.

Mary Savoye-Desanti, research associate in Yale's Department of Pediatrics, nd her team conducted the one-year clinical trial of 209 overweight children between the ages of 8 and16 to deal with the growing incidence of childhood obesity, particularly in the African American and Hispanic population. The childhood obesity outbreak has also boosted type- 2 diabetes among adolescents.

Savoye-Desanti and colleagues measured the efficiency of the weight management program Bright Bodies, in contrast to care provided at a pediatric obesity clinic. Bright Bodies was created 10 years ago by Savoye-Desanti and merges nutrition education, behaviour modification and exercise customized to the needs of inner-city children. The study sought to compare changes in BMI, body composition, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure and lipid profiles.

The 105 children randomly assigned to the Bright Bodies program participated in 50 minutes of exercise for two nights per week. The eight to 10-year-old group participated in several games such as relay races, obstacle courses and several other games including "Swim Fish Swim." The older group (11- to 16-year-olds) played flag football, basketball and other activities. Both groups played "Dance, Dance Revolution" by Konami.

The study revealed great differences in BMI, body weight, body fat and percent body fat between the control group and the weight management group. While the average body weight was basically unaffected among the weight management group, BMI was abridged by 1.7 units and there was an enhancement in overall cholesterol. The control group gained an average of 17 pounds and increased their BMI by 1.6 units. Percent and total body fat was reduced in the weight management group and increased in the control group.

Insulin sensitivity, which measures the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, was enlarged in the weight management group and lessened in the control group. Increased insulin sensitivity is linked to a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

"We have shown that a family-based program that uses nutrition education, behaviour modification and supervised exercise can lower BMI, improve body composition and increase insulin sensitivity. This is a family problem. The child can't do it alone," said Savoye-Desanti, who stresses that the success of the Bright Bodies program relates to regular contact between the families and staff members.

Savoye-Desanti said that while the program was very successful in treating overweight children, the cost incurred in carrying out such a program is sizeable.

"We will focus future studies on cost-benefit analyses, as this would be helpful for pediatric clinicians or health management organizations that are considering offering similar services to overweight children and adolescents," said Savoye-Desanti.

Source-ANI
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