Original Article

International Journal of Obesity (2007) 31, 1262–1269; doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803572; published online 13 March 2007

Prevention of weight gain in young adults through a seminar-based intervention program

M-F Hivert1, M-F Langlois1, P Bérard2, J-P Cuerrier2 and A C Carpentier1

  1. 1Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
  2. 2The Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

Correspondence: Dr A Carpentier, Division of Endocrinology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1H 5N4. E-mail: andre.carpentier@usherbrooke.ca

Received 13 August 2006; Revised 29 December 2006; Accepted 16 January 2007; Published online 13 March 2007.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

Prevention would be the ideal public health strategy to face the current obesity epidemic. Adoption of healthy lifestyles during the first years of college or university could prevent the onset of weight gain associated with this period of acquired independence and eventually decrease the incidence of obesity.

Design:

 

Randomized-controlled trial over a period of 2 years. The subjects received an educational/behavioral intervention (small group seminars) designed to help maintain a healthy lifestyle or no specific intervention (control group).

Subjects:

 

One-hundred and fifteen non-obese freshmen in a Faculty of Medicine.

Measurements:

 

Anthropometric measurements, physical activity level, fitness level, food intake and lipid profile were recorded at predetermined intervals.

Results:

 

The control group gained weight, whereas the intervention group lost a slight amount of weight over 2 years. The difference between the two groups was 1.3 kg at the end of the follow-up, the trend of weight gain differing between the two groups during the 2-year intervention period (P=0.04). There was no detectable difference in fitness, physical activity level or total caloric intake between the two groups during follow-up. However, plasma triglyceride levels increased in the control group and decreased in the intervention group (P=0.04).

Conclusion:

 

In this randomized-controlled trial, a small-group seminar educational/behavioral intervention successfully prevents weight gain in normal weight young healthy university students. Such small absolute changes in body composition and lipid profile, if maintained over a prolonged period, could result in significant long-term health benefits for the general population (ClinicalTrial.gov registration number: NCT00306449).

Keywords:

weight gain, prevention, triglycerides, clinical trials

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