The impact of significant weight loss on resting energy expenditure in obese youth

Background: The prevalence of obesity in American youth is increasing and t reating the condition is difficult. Methods: We have developed a multidisciplinary weight-reduction program tha t includes a very low calorie diet followed by a hypocaloric diet, exercise , and behavior modification. Based on data collected at baseline and at the end of the acute intervention phase (10 weeks), we assessed the impact of the weight loss that resulted from participation in this weight reduction p rogram on the resting energy expenditure and body composition of obese chil dren and adolescents. Results: There was a significant decrease in body weight and body fat as as sessed by weight determinations and skinfold measurements after 10 weeks, T he body mass index decreased significantly from 33.8 on entry to 29.6 (P < 0,0001), Despite the significant weight loss, resting energy expenditure an d lean body mass remained constant from entry until the completion of the a cute phase. Conclusion: We conclude that a multidisciplinary weight-reduction program t hat combines a very low calorie diet followed by a balanced hypocaloric die t, with a moderate-intensity progressive exercise program and behavior modi fication is an effective means for weight-reduction in obese children and a dolescents. Furthermore, fat mass is significantly reduced while lean body mass and resting energy expenditure are unaltered.