Anthropometric, dietetic and psychological changes after application of the «Niñ@s en movimiento» program in childhood obesity

Background and objective: «Niñ@s en movimiento» is an interventional programme (11 weekly sessions of 90 minutes's duration) designed to modify psychological aspects and nutritional and life style habits in obese children aged 6-12 and in their families. Patients and method: Eighty-one obese children (46 girls, 35 boys), 6-12 years of age were included. Body mass index (BMI), Mediterranean diet (KIDMED), anxiety (CMAS-R) and depression tests (CDS) were evaluated in at the start and end of the programme. Results: In 72 patients (88.9%) BMI decreased from a mean (standard deviation) 27.8 (3.8) to 26.5 (3.6) kg/m2 (p < 0.001) and from 3.3 (1,4) to 2.6 (1.2) kg/m2 (p < 0.001). Diary fruit intake increased from 63.3% to 82.7% of patients (p < 0.001) and greens from 45.6% to 88,2% of patients (p < 0.001). Breakfast intake of industrial cakes decreased from 17.7% to 1.3% of patients (p < 0.001) and the number of patients who skipped breakfast changed from 36.7% to 11.7% (p < 0.001). Anxiety and depression scores fell from 53.46 (27.69) to 47.22 (26.3) (p < 0.03) and from 29.68 to 16.88 (p < 0.001), respectively. The relative risks of suffering a depressive or anxiety disorder dropped from 38.8% to 22.5% (p < 0.001) and from 15% to 8.2% (p = 0.01) of the patients respectively. Conclusions: Application of the «Niñ@s en movimiento» programme leads to a decrease in BMI and in anxiety and depression scores and an increase in Mediterranean diet score. © 2008 Elsevier España S.L. All rights reserved.