Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention in children and adolescents - results of the project GRIT (Growth, Resilience, Insights, Thrive) pilot study

Abstract

Background: During childhood and adolescence leading behavioural risk factors for the development of cardiometabolic diseases include poor diet quality and sedentary lifestyle. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and effect of a real-world group-based multidisciplinary intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness, diet quality and self-concept in sedentary children and adolescents aged 9 to 15 years. Methods: Project GRIT (Growth, Resilience, Insights, Thrive) was a pilot single-arm intervention study. The 12-week intervention involved up to three outdoor High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) running sessions per week, five healthy eating education or cooking demonstration sessions, and one mindful eating and Emotional Freedom Technique psychology session. Outcome measures at baseline and 12-week follow-up included maximal graded cardiorespiratory testing, the Australian Child and Adolescent Eating Survey, and Piers-Harris 2 children's selfconcept scale. Paired samples t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare baseline and follow-up outcome measures in study completers only. Results: Of the 38 recruited participants (median age 11.4 years, 53% male), 24 (63%) completed the 12-week intervention. Dropouts had significantly higher diet quality at baseline than completers. Completers attended a median 58 (IQR 55-75) % of the 33 exercise sessions, 60 (IQR 40-95) % of the dietary sessions, and 42% attended the psychology session. No serious adverse events were reported. Absolute VO 2 peak at 12 weeks changed by 96.2 ± 239.4 mL/min (p = 0.06). As a percentage contribution to energy intake, participants increased their intake of healthy core foods by 6.0 ± 11.1% (p = 0.02) and reduced median intake of confectionary (− 2.0 [IQR 0.0-3.0] %, p = 0.003) and baked products (− 1.0 [IQR 0.0-5.0] %, p = 0.02). Participants significantly improved self-concept with an increase in average T-Score for the total scale by 2.8 ± 5.3 (p = 0.02) and the 'physical appearance and attributes' domain scale by median 4.0 [IQR 0.5-4.0] (p = 0.02).

Bardet‐Biedlsyndrome: Weight patterns and genetics in a rare obesity syndrome

“…Increased healthcare provider awareness of rapid weight gain in early childhood BBS may facilitate earlier diagnosis, allay parental guilt, and improve the impact of therapeutic counseling. Therapeutic interventions, including behavioral therapies, may be highly effective during early childhood before diet and activity habits are established 34,35. Obesity accelerates long-term, co-existing health con-…”

High-Intensity Interval Training upon Cognitive and Psychological Outcomes in Youth: A Systematic Review

“…In fact, Venckunas et al [46], after a HIIT intervention with intermittent running, three sessions/week for seven weeks, showed beneficial effects on attention in the young population. In this context, Mayr et al [20] who applied a similar protocol of HIIT (i.e., intermittent running, with ≥85% HRmax), but with three sessions/week for 12 weeks reported improvements in the self-concept of children and adolescents. Jeyanthi et al [47] also reported that a simple intervention of HIIT (≥85% HRmax) could provide benefits in attention, which is in line with the results obtained from Costigan et al [39], who implemented a HIIT intervention with cardiorespiratory exercise mostly, for eight weeks, three sessions/week, work between eight to ten minutes, and achieved a positive effect on children's attention.…”

“…The age of participants in all articles was under 18 years old and included boys and girls. The sample came from four different countries: 2 studies in Australia [20,39], 3 studies in Spain [21,22,40], 1 study in Japan [23], and 2 studies in the United Kingdom [24,41]. These studies included sample sizes from 30 to 184 subjects, ranging in age between 8 and 16 years old.…”

“…From the 8 studies reviewed, 62.5% (n = 5) developed a chronic intervention (i.e., repeated sessions of HIIT throughout days, weeks, or months), and 37.5% (n = 3) applied an acute intervention (i.e., single sessions of HIIT). Regarding the modality of HIIT, 87.5% (n = 7) of the studies [20][21][22][23][24]40,41] applied a traditional HIIT, in terms of running, sprinting, jumping, whereas 12.5% (n = 1) of the studies [39] used a traditional HIIT and also a high-intensity functional circuit training. Concerning the variables studied, 50.0% (n = 4) of the studies focused on cognitive performance [21][22][23]40], 37.5% (n = 3) of the studies targeted the psychological outcomes [20,24,41] and 12.5% (n = 1) of the studies determined the cognitive performance and psychological outcomes [39].…”

“…An emergent body of literature supports the feasibility and efficacy of HIIT on improving cognitive function and psychological variables (i.e., depression, emotional wellbeing, sleep quality) in the young population [20][21][22][23][24].…”