Research Article

A Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Management Plan Is Effective in Reducing the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence

Genitsaridi S.-M.^a · Giannios C.^a · Karampatsou S.^a · Papageorgiou I.^a · Papadopoulos G.^a · Farakla I.^a · Koui E.^a · Georgiou A.^a,b · Romas S.^a · Terzioglou E.^a · Papathanasiou C.^a · Kassari P.^a · Manios Y.^b · Charmandari E.^a,c

^aDivision of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
^bDepartment of Nutrition, Harokopio University of Athens, Athens, Greece
^cDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece

Abstract

Background: Obesity in childhood and adolescence represents a major health problem of our century. In Greece, 30–35% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese.

Objective and Hypotheses: To investigate the effectiveness of a comprehensive multidisciplinary personalized management plan at reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence.

Patients and Methods: One thousand (n = 1,000) children and adolescents aged 2–18 years (mean age ± SD: 10.09 ± 2.86 years; 520 females, 480 males) were studied prospectively. Subjects were classified as obese (n = 579, 57.9%), overweight (n = 295, 29.5%) or having a normal body mass index (BMI) (n = 126, 12.6%) according to the International Obesity Task Force cutoff points. All subjects were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team at frequent intervals, received personalized advice on diet and exercise and were studied prospectively for 1 year. Detailed clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations were performed at the beginning and at the end of the study.

Results: At initial evaluation, 57.9% of subjects were obese, 29.5% overweight and 12.6% of normal BMI. Indices of cardiometabolic disease were higher in obese than in overweight and normal-BMI subjects. Following 1 year of multidisciplinary management interventions, the prevalence of obesity decreased by 16.8%, the prevalence of normal BMI increased by 8.2%, and all cardiometabolic indices improved significantly.

Conclusions: A personalized multidisciplinary management plan is effective at reducing the prevalence of obesity in childhood and adolescence.