ENERGY BALANCE IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS: THE TRIAL OF ACTIVITY FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS COHORT

OBJECTIVES: To study correlates of change in BMI percentile and body fat among adolescent girls DESIGN AND METHODS: A longitudinal prospective study following 265 girls from the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG) cohort measured in 8(th) grade and during 10 and 11(th) grade or 11(th) and 12(th) grade. Twice during 2009-2011 girls wore an accelerometer and completed a food frequency questionnaire and 7-day diary documenting trips and food eaten away from home and school. Physical activity, BMI, and percent body fat were objectively measured at each time point. RESULTS: Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) declined, but was not independently associated with changes in BMI percentile. Increased vigorous physical activity was associated with reductions in body fat. Diet was associated with both changes in BMI percentile and body fat. Girls who increased the percentage of caloric intake from snacks and desserts reduced their BMI percentile and body fat. CONCLUSIONS: Some relationships between energy balance behaviors and BMI and body composition were counter-intuitive. While it is plausible that vigorous activity would result in reductions of body fat, until more accurate methods are devised to measure diet, the precise contribution of dietary composition to health will be difficult to assess.