title: A randomized controlled trial on a multicomponent intervention for overweight school-aged children - Copenhagen, Denmark.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity amongst children is a growing problem worldwide. In contrast to adults, little is known on the effects of controlled weight loss on components of the metabolic syndrome in children. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a 20-week exercise and diet guidance intervention on body mass index (BMI) in a group of overweight children. Our hypothesis was an observed reduction in BMI and secondarily in body fat content, insulin insensitivity, and other components of the metabolic syndrome in the intervention group.
  
  
  METHODS
  School children from Copenhagen were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 19) or a control group (n = 19). Anthropometric assessment, whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, two hours oral glucose tolerance test, steps measured by pedometer, and fitness tests were measured at baseline and at 20 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven children (30 girls) participated at baseline, aged 8.7 ± 0.9 years with a BMI of 21.8 ± 3.7 kg/m2 (mean ± SD), and 36 children completed the study. The intervention group decreased their BMI (the intervention effect is the difference in change between the groups adjusted for the respective baseline values (DELTA) = -2.0 kg/m2, 95% CI: -2.5; -1.5, P <0.001), total body mass (DELTA = -4.0 kg, 95% CI: -4.9; -3.0, P <0.001), and fat mass (DELTA = -3.3 kg, 95% CI: -4.2; -2.7, P <0.001) compared to the control group after the intervention. The intervention group displayed decreased waist, hip and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) (all three variables; P <0.001), area under curve for plasma insulin (P <0.05), and increased mean and minimum steps/day (P <0.05 and P <0.01, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The multicomponent intervention had significant favorable effects on BMI, weight, WHtR, mean and minimum steps/day, and fat mass. In addition, similar beneficial metabolic effects were found in the children as shown in adults, e.g. increase in peripheral insulin sensitivity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier number NCT01660789.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases The Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism and the Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Nina.Majlund.Harder@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Nina Majlund
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Harder-Lauridsen
authors.forename: Nina Marie
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Birk
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ried-Larsen
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Juul
authors.forename: Lars Bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Bente Klarlund
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Rikke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krogh-Madsen
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D003718:Denmark; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin