title: Diet and physical activity "defeated" Tuberil® in treatment of childhood obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Childhood obesity is remarkably spreading worldwide, involving both industrialized and low-income countries. Its prevalence, outcome and socioeconomic impact call for the attention of medical community. We conducted a monocentric, open, two-arm, parallel-group study to evaluate the efficacy at reducing appetite and increasing dietary compliance of obese children of Tuberil®, a weight-loss supplement derived from potato and devoid of side effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited participants, children with BMI ≥ 85th, through direct referrals in pediatrician's surgeries. Children were randomized to receive Tuberil® (group A) or nothing (group B), following a chronological order (A-B-A-B). Every child received a nutritionally balanced diet and had to record their appetite and to describe their meals in a diary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Even if we found a significant reduction in BMI, weight and waist circumference in both groups, no statistically significant differences between groups were noted. We did not found any significant differences in appetite between group A and B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that Tuberil® has no efficacy neither in reducing appetite in children nor in increasing dietary compliance. We believe that only a nutritionally balanced diet and our attention in verifying their compliance led to the reduction in BMI, weight and waist circumferences noted in our series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Sciences, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Rome, Italy. pferrara@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Bufalo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ianniello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paolini Paoletti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Massart
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saggese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations; C583500:Tuberil