Effect of a Single Nutritional Intervention Previous to a Critical Period of Fat Gain in University Students with Overweight and Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Sam Hernández-Jaña, Tamara Huber-Pérez, Ximena Palma-Leal, Paola Guerrero-Ibacache, Valentina Campos-Nuñez, Juan Pablo Zavala-Crichton, Carlos Jorquera-Aguilera, Kabir P. Sadarangani, Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez and Carlos Cristi-Montero
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Sam Hernández-Jaña: IRyS Research Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, 2374631 Valparaíso, Chile
Tamara Huber-Pérez: IRyS Research Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, 2374631 Valparaíso, Chile
Ximena Palma-Leal: IRyS Research Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, 2374631 Valparaíso, Chile
Paola Guerrero-Ibacache: IRyS Research Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, 2374631 Valparaíso, Chile
Valentina Campos-Nuñez: IRyS Research Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, 2374631 Valparaíso, Chile
Juan Pablo Zavala-Crichton: Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, 2531015 Viña del Mar, Chile
Carlos Jorquera-Aguilera: School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Science, Universidad Mayor, 8580000 Santiago, Chile
Kabir P. Sadarangani: Department of Kinesiology, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, 7500912 Santiago, Chile
Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez: IRyS Research Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, 2374631 Valparaíso, Chile
Carlos Cristi-Montero: IRyS Research Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, 2374631 Valparaíso, Chile

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-13

Abstract: Background: the present study aimed to investigate the effects of a single nutritional preventive session previous to a critical period linked to fat gain in university students with overweightness and obesity, emulating a nutritional session of a public health system. Methods: In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, 23 students met all the criteria to be included (20.91 ± 2.52-year-old; 52.2% women) who were divided into two groups: intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). Fat mass (FM) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), physical activity by accelerometry, feeding evaluation through three questionnaires, and a set of healthy lifestyle recommendations were evaluated before and after the national holidays (NH). Results: Our findings showed that FM increased significantly in the CG, but not in the IG (CG = 428.1 g; IG = 321.9 g; Δ = 106.2 g; p = 0.654 [95% CI = −379.57, 591.92]). However, no differences were found during the NH between them (Hedges’ g effect size = 0.19; p = 0.654). In addition, no statistical differences were observed between groups in feeding evaluations, the set of recommendations performed, and physical activity. Conclusion: a single preventive session before a critical period, using a similar counselling approach as used in the public health system, might not be enough to promote changes in eating and physical activity patterns and preventing fat gain in overweight/obese university students. Long-term interventions are a must.

Keywords: weight gain; obesity prevention; critical periods; eating disorders; intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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