title: A Multi-Component Day-Camp Weight-Loss Program Is Effective in Reducing BMI in Children after One Year: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a one-year multi-component immersive day-camp weight-loss intervention for children with overweight and obesity. The study design was a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. One hundred fifteen 11-13-year-old children with overweight and obesity were randomized into either: A six-week day-camp intervention arm focusing on increased physical activity, and healthy diet followed by a subsequent one-year family-based intervention, or a standard intervention arm consisting of one weekly exercise session for six weeks. Body mass index (BMI) was the primary outcome. BMI z-score, clustered cardiovascular risk z-score, and body composition were secondary outcomes. All outcomes were measured at baseline, six week-, and 52 week follow-up. After six weeks, children from the day-camp intervention arm had improved their BMI (-2.2 kg/m2 (95% CI -2.6 to -1.7, P<0.001)) and all secondary outcomes when compared to the children from the standard intervention arm. After 52 weeks, the day-camp intervention arm had a lower BMI (-1.2 kg/m2 (95% CI -1.8 to -0.5, P = 0.001)), and BMI z-score (-0.20 (95% CI -0.35 to -0.05, P = 0.008)), and clustered cardiovascular risk z-score (-0.23 (95% CI -0.37 to -0.08, P = 0.002)) compared to the standard intervention arm. No group differences were detected in body composition after 52 weeks. This study shows that the day-camp intervention arm is effective in reducing BMI and improving the metabolic health of children with overweight and obesity. However, the effects seem to be diminishing over time.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health (RICH), Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kristian Traberg
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3918-6645
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health (RICH), Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: The Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism (CIM) and The Centre for Physical Activity Research (CFAS), The Danish Diabetes Academy, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.|The Danish Diabetes Academy, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ried-Larsen
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health (RICH), Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.|Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars Bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Lillebaelt, Kolding, Denmark.
authors.forename: Malene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heidemann
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health (RICH), Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Niels Christian
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Møller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs