The beneficial impact of a lifestyle modification program on childhood obesity: a comparative study of demographic, anthropometric, and social factors over a decade

OBJECTIVES: Juvenile obesity is a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. KiCK is a 1-year outpatient pediatric obesity therapy program at the AUF DER BULT Children's and Youth Hospital. In addition to multiprofessional obesity training, clinical and laboratory data are collected at the beginning and end of the program, and a standardized 6-min walking test (6MWT) is carried out. METHODS: BMI, laboratory parameters, daily media usage time, and the data of the 6-MWT of the program participants in the years 2009-2012 ("A"), 2012-2015 ("B"), and 2018-2019 ("C") were recorded, and the differences between the three groups were analyzed. RESULTS: Group A included n=64 children (mean age 12.0; 40.6 % female), group B included n=104 children (mean age 11.7; 55.8 % female), and group C included n=131 children (mean age 11.9; 58 % female). BMI-SDS improved constantly in all three groups (A: 2.4 vs. 2.3 (p=0.009); B: 2.4 vs. 2.2 (p=0.003); C: 2.4 vs. 2.1 (p=0.001)). Obesity therapy significantly improved the walking distance in group B in the 6-MWT (B: 574 m vs. 621 m (p=<0.001)). CONCLUSIONS: The significant improvement in BMI-SDS over decades shows the constant program's contribution to improved weight outcomes in children and adolescents during the periods studied.