[First favourable results of the group education programme Go4it for overweight and obese adolescents].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of Go4it, a multidisciplinary group education programme for adolescents with overweight or obesity.


METHODS
Uncontrolled intervention study.


METHODS
At the obesity outpatient clinic of the Transmural Research and Treatment Centre for Overweight and Obese Children of the VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, a group education programme was developed for adolescents (age 12-18 year) who are overweight or obese. Obese adolescents who were referred to the obesity outpatient clinic were asked to participate. During 7 sessions (one session every two weeks) the adolescents were educated on the health consequences of obesity, diet, physical activity, energy balance, improving self-esteem and how to handle bullying and other difficult situations. All sessions were held in groups of 8-10 adolescents. In addition, two sessions were organised for the parents concerning the health consequences of obesity, diet, and physical activity. Body weight and height, glucose tolerance (by an oral glucose tolerance test; OGTT), and insulin resistance were measured at enrolment into the Go4it programme and 6 months later.


RESULTS
In total, 93 adolescents (39 boys, 54 girls) were included with a mean age of 3.9 (SD: 1.7) years. Of those, 69 adolescents (74%) attended at least 6 out of 7 sessions of the education programme. Stabilisation or reduction in obesity levels following completion of Go4it was achieved in 51 (74%) of these participants. 50 adolescents had a second OGTT. The BMI standard deviation score (BMI-sds) decreased by 4.3% for boys (p = 0.020) and 3.3% for girls (p = 0.017). Among girls, fasting blood glucose levels decreased by an average of 0.37 mmol/l (95% CI: 0.14-0.60) and insulin concentrations decreased by an average of 299 pmol/l (95% CI: 71-528).


CONCLUSIONS
Participation in the Go4it education programme is accompanied by a stabilisation or reduction in the level of obesity and has favourable effects on glucose and insulin metabolism.
Hofsteenge
G H
GH
VU Medisch Centrum, dienst Diëtetiek en Voedingswetenschappen, Postbus 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam. a.hofsteenge@vumc.nl
Weijs
P J M
PJ
Chin A Paw
M J M
MJ
Delemarre-van de Waal
H A
HA
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin