Impact of intervention on nutritional status, consumption of processed foods, and quality of life of adolescents with excess weight

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of a nutritional intervention on nutritional status, ultra‐processed food consumption, and quality of life of adolescents with excess weight. MethodsExperimental study with adolescent students with excess weight, divided into two groups, an intervention group and a control group. The nutritional intervention lasted six months, with an educational and motivational approach. Nutritional status (waist circumference and body mass index), quality of life, and ultra‐processed food consumption were evaluated before and after the period. ResultsSixty‐two adolescents with overweight or obesity participated in the study, 37 in the intervention group and 25 in the control group, aged 13.2±1.5 years in intervention group, and 13.0±1.8 years in control group, both of which had a higher female participation. There were changes in the body mass index (intervention group Δ: −0.81±2.28, control group Δ: −0.64±1.28) and in the waist circumference for intervention group (Δ:−3.31±5.47). For the pre‐ and post‐ultra‐processed food consumption, there was a significant reduction in the consumption of soft drinks in the intervention group (Δ: −0.07 [−0.27 to 0.00]), instant noodles (Δ: −0.03 [−0.07 to 0.00]), and sandwich cookies (Δ: −0.06 [−0.26 to 0.00]). The quality of life increased in the intervention group and decreased in the control group, with no intra‐ (p=0.162) or intergroup statistical relevance in the pre‐ (p=0.426) and post‐ (0.249) intervention period, with a reduction in the emotional domain score, with a significant variation in the intervention group (pre and post; Δ: −19.0±40.6). ConclusionThere was a decrease in body mass index and waist circumference (central obesity being more often related to insulin resistance), reduction of ultra‐processed food consumption (soft drinks, sandwich cookies, and instant noodles), and a tendency toward quality of life improvement (however, there was a decrease in the domains of emotional and school quality of life).