EFFECTS OF DECREASING SEDENTARY BEHAVIOR AND INCREASING ACTIVITY ON WEIGHT CHANGE IN OBESE CHILDREN

Obese children 8-12 years old from 61 families were randomized to trea tment groups that targeted increased exercise, decreased sedentary beh aviors, or both (combined group) to test the influence of reinforcing children to be more active or less sedentary on child weight change. S ignificant decreases in percentage overweight were observed after 4 mo nths between the sedentary and the exercise groups (-19.9 vs. -13.2). At 1 year, the sedentary group had a greater decrease in percentage ov erweight than did the combined and the exercise groups (-18.7 vs. -10. 3 and -8.7) and greater decrease in percentage of body fat (-4.7 vs. - 1.3). All groups improved fitness during treatment and follow-up. Chil dren in the sedentary group increased their liking for high-intensity activity and reported lower caloric intake than did children in the ex ercise group. These results support the goal of reducing time spent in sedentaIy activities to improve weight loss.