Eating Habits and Dietetic Management of Obesity in Children and Adolescent

Introduction: dietary management is the most important step in the childhood obesity care.The aim of this study is to analyze dietary habits in a pediatric population who are obese and to evaluate the effectiveness and adherence of patients to the prescribed diet at 6 months of follow-up.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study, which concerns obese children who are referred to the endocrinology department in Hédi Chaker hospital in Sfax. Then we have assessed the weight status after 6 months under regime. A sample of 84 children who are overweight and obese were recruited into the study. All the children included in our study were put under diet adapted according to the age during 6 months.

Results: 84 children, 44 boys and 40 girls. The average age was 11.83 years. The average BMI was 31.55kg/m² (21-47), average BMI Z score was 7,9SD (2,7-16). The daily calorie intake was 2484kcal/day. This weight loss was not statistically significant.

After 6 months of Fallow up: good adherence was observed in 23%. The average BMI was 29,6 kg/m², the average BMI Z score was 7,5 SD. The half of our patients have decreased their BMI Z-score. The prescribed diet was more effective in boys than in girls, in patients without a family history of obesity, in patients who were physically active, in patients who are overweight without obesity and in those who were more adherent. But this efficiency remains statistically insignificant.

Conclusions: This study showed that there is a positive impact of dietary management on weight reduction in children. Other studies have shown the value of dietetic management on childhood obesity care particularly through multidisciplinary interventions.