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Impact of an intensive lifestyle camp on anthropometry and quality of life in vulnerable children : A 3-year follow-up of a nonrandomized clinical trial

Dalstrup Pauls, Dorthe ; Clausen, Loa ; Brader, Lea ; Järvholm, Kajsa LU orcid ; Støvring, Henrik and Meldgaard Bruun, Jens (2026) In Obesity Facts
Abstract
Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents continues to rise, and there is a lack of long-term follow-up to clarify health and well-being trajectories into adolescence and adulthood. This study investigated anthropometry and quality of life (QoL) trajectories in 7-14-year-old vulnerable children three years after attending a lifestyle camp. Methods: Vulnerable children referred to a 10-week multicomponent lifestyle camp due to overweight or obesity, and/or psychosocial issues were enrolled. Anthropometry was assessed using bioelectric impedance and QoL using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Mixed effect models were performed to assess longitudinal changes in anthropometry and QoL and explore... (More)
Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents continues to rise, and there is a lack of long-term follow-up to clarify health and well-being trajectories into adolescence and adulthood. This study investigated anthropometry and quality of life (QoL) trajectories in 7-14-year-old vulnerable children three years after attending a lifestyle camp. Methods: Vulnerable children referred to a 10-week multicomponent lifestyle camp due to overweight or obesity, and/or psychosocial issues were enrolled. Anthropometry was assessed using bioelectric impedance and QoL using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Mixed effect models were performed to assess longitudinal changes in anthropometry and QoL and explore if improvements achieved during the lifestyle intervention predicted long-term outcomes. Results: In total, 222 participants (12.3±1.4 years) were included, of which 126 (56%) participated in the 3-year follow-up (15.4±1.3 years). Of those, 91 (72%) had anthropometry assessed, and the majority (83%) of participants were still living with overweight/obesity. Although Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Score (BMI-SDS) was lower at 3-years (2.00 SD ±1.1) compared to baseline (2.48 SD ±0.9). QoL remained higher at the 3-year follow-up compared to before the intervention. Compared to end-of-treatment, girls had an increase in BMI-SDS (0.37 SD (95% CI 0.26;0.48), and body fat (5.62% (95% CI 4.36;6.88) at the 3-year follow-up while boys had a decrease in body fat (-2.25% (95% CI –3.87;-0.62)) but no change in BMI-SDS. Overall, QoL decreased (total QoL –8.33 (95% CI –10.73; -5.94)) during the post-intervention phase. Conclusion: The lifestyle camp, a child-centered intensive short-term multicomponent intervention focused on well-being, peer interaction, and social belonging, may be a promising treatment strategy for improving health and well-being long-term in vulnerable children, although the improvements attenuate across time. Future research should explore the potential to rethink treatment strategies and investigate whether continuous long-term support may help to sustain improvements further throughout adolescence. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Obesity Facts
pages
21 pages
publisher
Karger
external identifiers
  • pmid:42268790
ISSN
1662-4033
DOI
10.1159/000552702
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ecdd5682-459c-4253-baa0-aab8c4906e6d
date added to LUP
2026-06-11 15:03:09
date last changed
2026-06-12 13:45:20
@article{ecdd5682-459c-4253-baa0-aab8c4906e6d,
  abstract     = {{Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents continues to rise, and there is a lack of long-term follow-up to clarify health and well-being trajectories into adolescence and adulthood. This study investigated anthropometry and quality of life (QoL) trajectories in 7-14-year-old vulnerable children three years after attending a lifestyle camp. Methods: Vulnerable children referred to a 10-week multicomponent lifestyle camp due to overweight or obesity, and/or psychosocial issues were enrolled. Anthropometry was assessed using bioelectric impedance and QoL using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Mixed effect models were performed to assess longitudinal changes in anthropometry and QoL and explore if improvements achieved during the lifestyle intervention predicted long-term outcomes. Results: In total, 222 participants (12.3±1.4 years) were included, of which 126 (56%) participated in the 3-year follow-up (15.4±1.3 years). Of those, 91 (72%) had anthropometry assessed, and the majority (83%) of participants were still living with overweight/obesity. Although Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Score (BMI-SDS) was lower at 3-years (2.00 SD ±1.1) compared to baseline (2.48 SD ±0.9). QoL remained higher at the 3-year follow-up compared to before the intervention. Compared to end-of-treatment, girls had an increase in BMI-SDS (0.37 SD (95% CI 0.26;0.48), and body fat (5.62% (95% CI 4.36;6.88) at the 3-year follow-up while boys had a decrease in body fat (-2.25% (95% CI –3.87;-0.62)) but no change in BMI-SDS. Overall, QoL decreased (total QoL –8.33 (95% CI –10.73; -5.94)) during the post-intervention phase. Conclusion: The lifestyle camp, a child-centered intensive short-term multicomponent intervention focused on well-being, peer interaction, and social belonging, may be a promising treatment strategy for improving health and well-being long-term in vulnerable children, although the improvements attenuate across time. Future research should explore the potential to rethink treatment strategies and investigate whether continuous long-term support may help to sustain improvements further throughout adolescence.}},
  author       = {{Dalstrup Pauls, Dorthe and Clausen, Loa and Brader, Lea and Järvholm, Kajsa and Støvring, Henrik and Meldgaard Bruun, Jens}},
  issn         = {{1662-4033}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  publisher    = {{Karger}},
  series       = {{Obesity Facts}},
  title        = {{Impact of an intensive lifestyle camp on anthropometry and quality of life in vulnerable children : A 3-year follow-up of a nonrandomized clinical trial}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000552702}},
  doi          = {{10.1159/000552702}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}