Dietary Monitoring of Children and Adolescents Requesting Weight Loss at Nutrition Service of Côte d’Ivoire National Public Health Institute

Introduction: management of obesity require preventive and curative approach. The objective of this study was to examine dietary monitoring of children and adolescents requesting weight loss. Method: This was a retrospective study conducted over a period of one month in nutrition department of Cote d’Ivoire National Public Health Institute. Study population was children aged 6 to 11 and adolescents aged 12 to 17, all diagnosed as obese. They were placed on a personalized low-calorie diet and they attended follow-up consultations and nutritional education sessions. They were monitored over a period of two-year. Results: on a total of 112 children and adolescents, female’s predominance was noted (58.9%). The cohort comprised 46% children and 56% adolescents and their history was most marked by rheumatic diseases (29.5%). Adherence to the diet over a 24-month period showed that only 2.7% of children and adolescents were able to adhere to it. More than half (54.5%) attended fewer than 3 of the 6 group nutrition education sessions scheduled. After two years of follow-up, the overall nutritional status of the children and adolescents improved, with a decrease in obesity of nearly 29 points and weight normalization in 5.4% of participants (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results observed highlight that the success of a weight loss program in young people depends less on restriction than on the sustainable adoption of balanced eating habits that are adapted to their reality.