Clinical, dietary, and psychosocial effectiveness of interdisciplinary care in child and juvenile obesity

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of interdisciplinary care in modifying anthropometric clinical parameters (BMI and waist circumference), psychosocial profile and eating behavior in a group of children and adolescents with obesity. This is a clinical study involving 200 children and adolescents with obesity who are participants of the "Servico de Medicina Preventiva" program, and the "Centro de Especialidades Medicas de Criancas e Adolescentes" both in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. At the end of the interdisciplinary intervention, there was a decrease in the number of hours devoted to electronic games and television and an increase in physical activity, which was associated with a reduction in reports of dissatisfaction and symptoms of depression. In addition, the sadness and prejudice related to obesity suffered at school and in the family environment were also attenuated, despite the percentage increase in the anxiety indicator. Regarding the anthropometric measurement, there was a reduction in body mass index, waist circumference, in caloric consumption. It is concluded that interdisciplinary programs are an effective strategy to reduce the negative repercussions of obesity in the daily lives of obese children and adolescents, as there were improvements in anthropometric parameters, in addition to psychosocial and dietary aspects. RESUMOO objetivo deste estudo e avaliar a eficacia do atendimento interdisciplinar na modificacao de parametros clinicos antropometricos (IMC e circunferencia da cintura), perfil psicossocial e comportamento alimentar em um grupo de criancas e adolescentes com obesidade. Trata-se de um estudo clinico envolvendo 200 criancas e adolescentes com obesidade participantes do programa "Servico de Medicina Preventiva" e do "Centro de Especialidades Medicas de Criancas e Adolescentes", ambos em Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil. Ao final da intervencao interdisciplinar, houve uma diminuicao no numero de horas dedicadas a jogos eletronicos e televisao e um aumento na atividade fisica, o que foi associado a reducao nos relatos de insatisfacao e sintomas de depressao. Alem disso, a tristeza e o preconceito relacionados a obesidade sofrida na escola e no ambiente familiar tambem foram atenuados, apesar do aumento percentual no indicador de ansiedade. Em relacao a medida antropometrica, houve reducao do indice de massa corporal, circunferencia da cintura e consumo calorico. Conclui-se que os programas interdisciplinares sao uma estrategia eficaz para reduzir as repercussoes negativas da obesidade no cotidiano de criancas e adolescentes obesos, pois houve melhorias nos parametros antropometricos, alem de aspectos psicossociais e alimentares.