Effect of a High-Intensity Dietary Intervention on Changes in Dietary Intake and Eating Pathology during a Multicomponent Adolescent Obesity Intervention

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 13; no. 6; p. 1850
• Main Authors: Raynor, Hollie A., Mazzeo, Suzanne E., LaRose, Jessica Gokee, Adams, Elizabeth L., Thornton, Laura M., Caccavale, Laura J., Bean, Melanie K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 28.05.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: adolescents; Adults; Behavior; Caregivers; Child development; childhood obesity; Data analysis; Diabetes; Diet; Eating disorders; Energy; Energy intake; females; Food; food intake; food quality; Fruits; Gastrointestinal surgery; Intervention; Meetings; nutritional intervention; Obesity; Obesity in adolescence; Overweight; Pathology; questionnaires; randomized clinical trials; Teenagers; Type 2 diabetes; Vegetables; Weight control; United States > US; Virginia
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu13061850

Concerns remain about dietary changes during pediatric obesity treatment and eating pathology, which have not been investigated. This secondary data analysis from a randomized clinical trial examined associations between adolescents’ changes in energy intake and diet quality during obesity treatment with post-treatment eating pathology. Adolescents (N = 82: 13.7 ± 1.2 y, 34.9 ± 7.0 kg/m2, 63.4% female, 46.3% black) received TEENS+, a 4-month multicomponent intervention. TEENS+ provided individualized dietary goals (1200–1800 kcal/day; number of “Go” foods/day (low-energy, high-nutrient-dense foods)). At 0 and 4 months, 3-day food records assessed energy intake and diet quality (Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015)). Two HEI-2015 subscores were created: components to increase (increase), and components to limit (decrease). The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire measured eating pathology (total score and subscales: restraint; and eating, weight, and shape concern). Corrected p-values are reported as q-values. Energy intake decreased (−292 ± 418 kcal/day; q < 0.001), while diet quality improved during treatment (total HEI-2015 (4.5 ± 15.1; q = 0.034) and increase (3.3 ± 9.4; q = 0.011)). Restraint increased (+0.6 ± 1.4; q < 0.001), whereas shape (−0.5 ± 1.3; q = 0.004) and weight (−0.5 ± 1.4; q = 0.015) concerns decreased. Greater decreases in energy intake were associated with greater restraint post-treatment (F = 17.69; q < 0.001). No other significant associations were observed. Changes in adolescents’ dietary intake during obesity treatment were unrelated to increased shape, weight, or eating concerns post-treatment.