title: Postprandial thermogenesis in obese children before and after weight reduction.
abstract: The thermic effect of a meal (TEM) was measured in a group of 10 prepubertal obese children before (OB) and after (OA) weight reduction, and in a group of 10 age-matched control children (C) of normal body weight. Following a hypocaloric balanced diet for 6 +/- 1 months, the obese children lost 5.2 +/- 1.3 kg i.e. 11% of their initial body weight. The thermic response to the mixed liquid meal - fed at an energy level corresponding to 30% of the 24 h premeal resting metabolic rate - was found to be significantly lower in OB than in C children (61 +/- 25 kJ.3h-1 vs 79 +/- 21 kJ.3h-1, P less than 0.05), despite their higher test meal energy. After slimming, the TEM of obese children increased towards the controls' values (73 +/- 30 kJ.3h-1). These results support the hypothesis of the existence of a moderate thermogenic defect in some obese children which represents a consequence rather than an aetiological factor of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Regional Centre for Juvenile Diabetes, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maffeis
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Schutz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinelli
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002151:Calorimetry; D002648:Child; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004435:Eating; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin