Abstract
Background: Childhood obesity has become a global epidemic, with approximately 34% of American children affected. This study describes outcomes seen in patients of a Multidisciplinary Pediatric Obesity Clinic (MPOC) who are compliant with individualized exercise regimens conducted by a Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP). The goal of this study is to track body composition, physical fitness measures, laboratory results, dietary and behavioral changes over the course of the program. Methods: Prospective cohort study design was implemented. There were 8-week exercise sessions conducted. Participants were evaluated by the CEP before, after the 8-week session using a standardized physical fitness evaluation, measurement of body composition and circumferences. Results: Statistical significance was observed with the increase in height (p<0.001), weight (p=0.014), Total Lean Mass (p=0.015). Increase in percent lean mass for all ethnicities in the study group i.e. black (male and female), hispanic (male and female) and white (male). An increase in the number of push-ups (p=0.012) was also observed. Conclusion: We can conclude that the use of an MPOC, CEP, and an exercise program early in childhood can potentially prevent the complications of obesity later in life.
Highlights
Childhood obesity is a global epidemic that has more than tripled in the last 40 years, with almost 20% of children ages 218 categorized as obese [1]
This paper describes the experience of adding a Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) to the Multidisciplinary Pediatric Obesity Clinic (MPOC) clinical team and outcomes of an 8-week structured exercise program for MPOC patients
There was no white female participants enrolled in the study we present the body composition data that was recorded and analyzed from the participants in the study
Summary
Childhood obesity is a global epidemic that has more than tripled in the last 40 years, with almost 20% of children ages 218 categorized as obese [1]. Our institution has formed the Multidisciplinary Pediatric Obesity Clinic [2, 3] (MPOC), offering patients ages 2-18 an individualized treatment program, developed by an expert team of pediatric gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, dieticians and psychologists. It has been shown that physicians do not receive comprehensive exercise and physical activity education during their training [6,7,8,9,10]. The goal of this study is to track body composition, physical fitness measures, laboratory results, dietary and behavioral changes over the course of the program. Participants were evaluated by the CEP before, after the 8-week session using a standardized physical fitness evaluation, measurement of body composition and circumferences. Conclusion: We can conclude that the use of an MPOC, CEP, and an exercise program early in childhood can potentially prevent the complications of obesity later in life
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