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An increase in dietary carbohydrates as an approach to weight reduction in children is effective only when accompanied with nutrition education
Author(s) -
Rosado Jorge Luis,
Arellano María del Rocío,
Montemayor Karina,
García Olga Patricia,
Caamaño María del Carmen
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a168
Subject(s) - overweight , nutrition education , anthropometry , medicine , obesity , carbohydrate , blood lipids , weight loss , food science , cholesterol , chemistry , gerontology
This study investigated 1) if an increase in carbohydrate intake is an effective strategy to reduce body weight and blood lipids in overweight and obese children, 2) if a nutrition education program would make a difference on the response to an increase in carbohydrate intake and 3) if an increase in carbohydrate intake alone or with a nutrition education program has an effect on plasma lipid profile. In a longitudinal study, overweight or obese children (n=147) aged 6–12 y were assigned to receive one of 4 treatments: A) 33±7 g of ready to eat cereal (RTEC) for breakfast, B) 33±7 g of RTEC for breakfast and for dinner, C) 33±7 g of RTEC for breakfast and a nutrition education program, and D) Non intervention, control group. Anthropometry, body composition, physical activity, food intake and blood lipids were measured at baseline and 12 weeks after treatment. After intervention only the children that received RTEC and nutrition education had significantly lower body weight (p<0.01), lower BMI (p<0.01) and lower total body fat (p<0.05) compared with the control group. Plasma triglycerides and VLDL were significantly reduced (p<.05) and HDL increased significantly (p<.01) only in this treatment group. A strategy to increase carbohydrate consumption to reduce obesity is effective only when accompanied by nutrition education. The need for education could be extrapolated to other strategies intended for treatment of obesity.