Stavroula Stavrou1, Nicolas C Nicolaides2, Ifigenia Papageorgiou3, Pinelopi Papadopoulou3, Elena Terzioglou3, George P Chrousos4, Christina Darviri1, Evangelia Charmandari2. 1. Postgraduate Course Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece. 2. Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Clinical Research Center, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece. 3. Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. 4. Postgraduate Course Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece; Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Clinical Research Center, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Obesity in childhood and adolescence represents a major health problem of our century, and accounts for a significant increase in morbidity and mortality in adulthood. In addition to the increased consumption of calories and lack of exercise, accumulating evidence suggests that childhood obesity is strongly associated with prolonged and excessive activation of the stress system. AIM: The aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of a stress-management intervention program, which included progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, guided imagery and cognitive restructuring, in overweight and obese children and adolescents. METHODS:Forty-nine children and adolescents (mean age ± SEM: 11.15 ± 1.48 years) were prospectively recruited to participate in this randomized controlled study. Of those, 23 participants were assigned into the intervention group, while 26 participants represented the control group. Anthropometric measurements were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the study, and participants were asked to complete the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (S.C.A.R.E.D.), the Child Depression Inventory (C.D.I.), the Child Behavior Checklist (C.B.C.L.) and the Youth Self Report (Y.S.R.). RESULTS: The applied stress-management methods resulted in a significant reduction in the body mass index (BMI) in the intervention group compared with the control group [ΔBMI=1.18 vs 0.10 kg/m2 (p<0.001)]. In addition to BMI, these methods ameliorated depression and anxiety, and reduced the internalizing and externalizing problems in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the application of an 8-week stress management program could facilitate weight loss in Greek overweight and obese children and adolescents. Further larger studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness of stress-management methods in overweight and obese subjects.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Obesity in childhood and adolescence represents a major health problem of our century, and accounts for a significant increase in morbidity and mortality in adulthood. In addition to the increased consumption of calories and lack of exercise, accumulating evidence suggests that childhood obesity is strongly associated with prolonged and excessive activation of the stress system. AIM: The aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of a stress-management intervention program, which included progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, guided imagery and cognitive restructuring, in overweight and obesechildren and adolescents. METHODS: Forty-nine children and adolescents (mean age ± SEM: 11.15 ± 1.48 years) were prospectively recruited to participate in this randomized controlled study. Of those, 23 participants were assigned into the intervention group, while 26 participants represented the control group. Anthropometric measurements were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the study, and participants were asked to complete the Screen for ChildAnxiety Related Disorders (S.C.A.R.E.D.), the ChildDepression Inventory (C.D.I.), the Child Behavior Checklist (C.B.C.L.) and the Youth Self Report (Y.S.R.). RESULTS: The applied stress-management methods resulted in a significant reduction in the body mass index (BMI) in the intervention group compared with the control group [ΔBMI=1.18 vs 0.10 kg/m2 (p<0.001)]. In addition to BMI, these methods ameliorated depression and anxiety, and reduced the internalizing and externalizing problems in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the application of an 8-week stress management program could facilitate weight loss in Greek overweight and obesechildren and adolescents. Further larger studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness of stress-management methods in overweight and obese subjects.
Authors: Nicolas C Nicolaides; Elli Kyratzi; Agaristi Lamprokostopoulou; George P Chrousos; Evangelia Charmandari Journal: Neuroimmunomodulation Date: 2014-09-12 Impact factor: 2.492
Authors: A Roussos; G Karantanos; C Richardson; C Hartman; D Karajiannis; S Kyprianos; H Lazaratou; O Mahaira; M Tassi; V Zoubou Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 1999-09 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: B Birmaher; D A Brent; L Chiappetta; J Bridge; S Monga; M Baugher Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 1999-10 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Chiadi U Onyike; Rosa M Crum; Hochang B Lee; Constantine G Lyketsos; William W Eaton Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2003-12-15 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Alison L Miller; Hurley Riley; Sarah E Domoff; Ashley N Gearhardt; Julie Sturza; Niko Kaciroti; Julie C Lumeng Journal: Appetite Date: 2019-02-14 Impact factor: 3.868
Authors: Michael Zeiler; Julia Philipp; Stefanie Truttmann; Karin Waldherr; Gudrun Wagner; Andreas Karwautz Journal: Nutrients Date: 2021-11-16 Impact factor: 5.717