Effects of Telephone Follow-Up Intervention on %Body Fat, Inflammatory Cytokines, and Oxidative Stress in Obese Hispanic Children

This study investigated whether 10 month telephone follow-up intervention effectively stabilizes reductions in %body fat, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress obtained from summer camp in obese Hispanic children. Fifty-six obese children (19 SUTI: summer camp and 10 months of follow-up telephone intervention, 18 SU: summer camp intervention only, and 19 CON: no intervention) completed this study. Anthropometric data and blood samples were obtained before (PRE), after 8 weeks of summer camp, and a 10month follow-up telephone intervention to measure markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Eight weeks of summer camp significantly reduced %body fat, and levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, C-reactive protein and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine. It also elevated levels of adiponectin and total antioxidant status in SUTI and SU (p < 0.05). However, results of the 10month follow-up measurement were reverted back to PRE in SU, whereas the results for SUTI remained different to PRE (p < 0.05). Results confirm that levels of inflammation and oxidative stress are correlated to changes in %body fat, indicating that fat loss is effective in preventing and managing obesity-associated disorders. It is suggested that a telephone intervention is an effective follow-up tool for stabilizing reductions in %body fat as well as levels of inflammation and oxidative stress that were obtained from an intensive summer camp program in obese Hispanic children.