The Effect of a Physical Activity Consultation in the Management of Adolescent Overweight, Including Anthropometry, Physical Activity Levels, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Endothelial Health

The prevalence of pediatric obesity makes this condition a worldwide public health concern. Physical Activity (PA) is recognized as having many health benefits, many of them related to obesity and its comorbidities. Despite of all the efforts, the majority of the overweight children/adolescents still present low levels of PA and high levels of sedentary behaviors. Thus, it seems that the greatest challenge is to influence behavior change in order to increase PA exposure in this population. PA consultation can be a cost-effective way of enhancing PA and improve weight status among overweight children.

The main objective of this study is to analyze if the inclusion of a PA consultation in a multidisciplinary program for the management of adolescent overweight improves body mass index (BMI) z-score, PA levels and sedentary behavior outcomes at six and twelve months, compared to those attending only the Pediatric and the Dietetic consultations.

This study was designed as a non-randomized, controlled clinical trial with six months duration and follow-up at the 12th month, that will include overweight adolescents (BMI ≥ p85) aged 12 to 17, attending the Clinic for the first time, and accepted to be enrolled. Those with (i) major pathologies (other than obesity or its related comorbidities), (ii) inability to perform regular PA, (iii) mental disorders, (iv) smoking habits, (v) under any kind of prescription (other than antihypertensives or metformin), or (vi) being involved in another weight loss program will be excluded. According to the sample size calculation, we expect to recruit 129 participants that will be allocated in three groups by consecutive sampling: (i) control group - standard care (Pediatric and Dietitian consultations); (ii) intervention group I - standard care plus PA consultation; (iii) intervention group II - 2 weekly exercise sessions additionally to the standard care and PA consultations..