Sex as a moderator of body composition following a randomized controlled lifestyle intervention among Latino youth with obesity

Authors: VANDER WYST, KILEY - Arizona State University; OLSON, MICAH - Arizona State University; KELLER, COLLEEN - Arizona State University; SOLTERO, ERICA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); WILLIAMS, ALLISON - Arizona State University; PENA, ARMANDO - Arizona State University; AYERS, STEPHANIE - Arizona State University; JAGER, JUSTIN - Arizona State University; SHAIBI, GABRIEL - Arizona State University

Submitted to: Pediatric Obesity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2020
Publication Date: 2/18/2020
Citation: Vander Wyst, K.B., Olson, M.L., Keller, C.S., Soltero, E.G., Williams, A.N., Pena, A., Ayers, S.L., Jager, J., Shaibi, G.Q. 2020. Sex as a moderator of body composition following a randomized controlled lifestyle intervention among Latino youth with obesity. Pediatric Obesity. 2020:e12620. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12620.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12620

Interpretive Summary: Latino youth are the fastest growing pediatric subpopulation in the U.S. This population experiences higher rates of obesity and are at a greater risk for type 2 diabetes compared to non-Latino white youth. Disparities in obesity and the prevalence of metabolic diseases also exists within the Latino population. Previous studies have shown that adolescent Latino girls are more likely to have higher levels of body fat and experience higher rates of type 2 diabetes compared to Latino boys. However, it is not clear whether Latino girls and boys will respond differently to the same diabetes prevention intervention. In this study, we delivered a 12-week culturally-grounded diabetes prevention program to a sample of 135 Latino adolescents (14-16 years old) with obesity. We found that Latino girls and boys exhibited a differential response to the diabetes prevention program. Compared to Latino girls, Latino boys had greater reductions in body fat percentage, fat mass, and greater increases in fat free mass. This study demonstrated that different diabetes prevention strategies may be needed for Latino girls compared to Latino boys. Future studies should consider tailoring diabetes prevention strategies differently for boys and girls in order to ensure that programming is effective for both genders.

Technical Abstract: Body composition differences between males and females emerge during adolescence and continue throughout adulthood; however, whether sex moderates body composition changes in adolescents with obesity after an intervention is unknown. A total of 136 Latino youth with obesity (BMI% 98.2+/-1.3) aged 14 to 16 years old were randomized to either a 12-week lifestyle intervention (27 males/40 females) or control (35 males/34 females) group. The intervention included nutrition education (1 h/wk) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (3 h/wk). Anthropometric data (body mass index [BMI], BMI%, waist circumference, total body fat, and fat-free mass) were obtained pre- and post-intervention. Sex differences were examined by general linear models with significance determined at P<.05 for the F-statistic. Sex did not moderate changes in BMI (F1,115=0.01, P=.9), BMI% (F1,115=0.14, P=.7), or waist circumference (F1,117=1.1, P =.3). Sex significantly moderated changes in body fat percent (F1,117=5.3, P=.02), fat mass (F1,116=4.5, P=.04), and fat-free mass (F1,116=4.3, P=.04). Intervention males compared with females had greater relative reductions in fat percent (-4.1+/-0.8% vs -1.2+/-0.7%, P=.02) and fat mass (-5.0+/-1.1 kg vs -1.5+/-0.9 kg, P=.02) and gained more fat free mass (3.6+/-0.9 kg vs 0.5+/-0.8 kg, P=.02) when compared with same sex controls. Males and females exhibited a differential response to lifestyle intervention for percent fat, fat mass, and fat-free mass indicating that sex-specific improvements in body composition favors males over females.