Abstract: Introduction: the main objectives of weight-loss interventions
are to decrease fat mass while maintaining fatfree
mass.
Objective: our aim was to address effectiveness body
composition changes in overweight adolescents assessed
by different body composition methods following an obesity
intervention programme.
Material and methods: the life-style intervention was
multi-disciplinary, with 13 months follow-up. Participants
were 13-to-16 year-old overweight, or obese, Spanish
adolescents. The adolescents (n = 156; 54.8% females)
had body composition measured with anthropometry,
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and air-displacement
plethysmography. All measurements were made at baseline,
and after 2- and 13-months. Repeated measures analysis
of covariance to compare mean anthropometric changes
over time and the Bonferroni correction were applied.
Imputation of anthropometric measures was performed.
Results: a high significant decrease in fat mass index
was achieved in males after 2-and 13-months of intervention
as measured by anthropometry (1.16 and 1.56 kg / m2,
respectively), X-ray absorptiometry (1.51 and 1.91 kg / m2)
and plethysmography (2.13 and 2.44 kg/m2). Moreover, a
short and long-term maintenance of fat-and fat-free mass
index was observed by X-ray absorptiometry in females
(0.94 and 0.68 kg/m2).Conclusion: our multidisciplinary approach to lifestyle
intervention has a favourable impact on body fat mass
and fat-free mass index as well as waist-to-height ratio,
over 13 months intervention in overweight and obese adolescents.
