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Pediatrics

Association of protein-energy partitioning with body weight and body composition changes in adolescents with severe obesity

International Journal of Obesity volume 46, pages 2021–2028 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives

Body composition and protein-energy partitioning changes are important factors of body weight regulation, but have not been studied in the context of clinical obesity treatment setting. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the pattern of body weight loss, body composition, and energy partitioning changes during a 9-month multidisciplinary weight loss program and 4-month follow up and to test the associations among these changes in adolescents with severe obesity.

Subjects/Methods

Twenty-five adolescents (14.1 ± 1.5 years old; 13 girls) with severe obesity joined a pediatric obesity center for a 9-month inpatient multidisciplinary weight loss program. All participants performed body composition assessment (i.e. fat mass-FM, and fat-free mass-FFM) and completed a 36-h session in indirect calorimetric chamber before the start (T0), at the end of the intervention (T1) and 4 months follow-up to the intervention (T2). The protein-energy partitioning (P ratio) was calculated as urinary nitrogen loss/total energy expenditure over 24 hours.

Interventions

9-month individualized multidisciplinary weight loss program consisting of lifestyle education, psychological support, physical activity, and dietary intervention.

Results

Initial P ratio was positively associated with changes in body weight from T0 to T1 (p = 0.038). The changes in FFM/FM were negatively associated with body weight changes in boys (p = 0.006) from T0 to T1 and in girls (p < 0.001) from T1 to T2. Urinary nitrogen excretion (p < 0.001) and total energy expenditure (p < 0.001) significantly decreased during the weight loss program while the P ratio did not significantly change.

Conclusion

The present results suggest that baseline and changes in energy partitioning may be associated with changes in body weight in adolescents with severe obesity. In addition, sexual dimorphism in these patterns of change suggest the need for specific dietary and physical activity strategies in boys and girls to optimize body weight loss and to prevent or slow weight regain.

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Fig. 1: The study design.
Fig. 2: Body weight variations and associated variables.
Fig. 3: Body composition variations and associated variables.
Fig. 4: Patterns of change in P ratio and its components.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the adolescents who participated in this study and their parents. We thank the Centre Medical Infantile de Romagnat and the CRNH for their support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clermont Auvergne University, UPR 3533, Laboratory of the Metabolic Adaptations to Exercise under Physiological and Pathological Conditions, CRNH Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Laurie Isacco & David Thivel

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Stefano Lazzer

  3. School of Sport Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Stefano Lazzer

  4. Biostatistics Unit, DRCI, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Bruno Pereira

  5. Clinical Sciences Division. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    Nicole Fearnbach

  6. Clermont Auvergne University, INRAE, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, CRNH Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Christophe Montaurier, Michel Vermorel & Yves Boirie

  7. CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Department of Sport Medicine, CRNH Auvergne, ASMS-UNH, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Fabrice Rannou

  8. CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Department of Human Nutrition, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Yves Boirie

  9. CHU Clermont-Ferrand, CSO-CALORIS, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Yves Boirie & David Thivel

  10. International Research Chair Health in Motion, Clermont Auvergne University Foundation, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    David Thivel

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  1. Laurie Isacco
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Contributions

The conception and design of the study: SL, MV, YB; Acquisition of data: SL, CM, MV, YB; Analysis and interpretation of data: LI, SL, BP, FR, YB, DT; Drafting the article: LI, DT; Revising it critically for important intellectual content: SL, NF, FR, YB; Final approval of the version to be submitted: all authors.

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Correspondence to Laurie Isacco.

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Isacco, L., Lazzer, S., Pereira, B. et al. Association of protein-energy partitioning with body weight and body composition changes in adolescents with severe obesity. Int J Obes 46, 2021–2028 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-022-01218-9

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