Effects of a randomized maintenance intervention on adiposity and metabolic risk factors in overweight minority adolescents

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a maintenance programme (monthly newsletters vs. monthly group classes and telephone behavioural sessions) on obesity and metabolic disease risk at 1 year in overweight minority adolescents. Methods: After a 4-month nutrition and strength training intervention, 53 overweight Latino and African-American adolescents (15.4 +/- 1.1 years) were randomized into one of two maintenance groups for 8 months: monthly newsletters (n = 23) or group classes (n = 30; monthly classes + individualized behavioural telephone sessions). The following outcomes were measured at months 4 (immediately following the intense intervention) and 12: height, weight, blood pressure, body composition via BodPod (TM) (Life Measurement Instruments, Concord, CA, USA), lipids and glucose/insulin indices via frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. Results: There were no significant group by time interactions for any of the health outcomes. There were significant time effects in several outcomes for both groups from months 4 to 12: bench press and leg press decreased by 5% and 14%, respectively (P = 0.004 & P = 0.01), fasting insulin and acute insulin response decreased by 26% and 16%, respectively (P < 0.001 & P = 0.046); while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and insulin sensitivity improved by 5% and 14% (P = 0.042 & P = 0.039). Conclusions: Newsletters as opposed to group classes may suffice as follow-up maintenance programmes to decrease type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk in overweight minority adolescents.