Changes in leukocyte telomere length among children with obesity participating in a behavioural weight control program
Authors' conclusion
LTL increased in response to a behavioural weight control program among children with obesity, suggesting an impact on biological health and cellular aging from participation in a behavioural weight control intervention. LTL may be a useful biomarker for assessing changes in response to behavioural interventions.
Study context
- Population
- Children 8–12 years with BMI ≥95th percentile for age and sex; 55% female, 29% white, 52% Latinx, 8% Asian, 11% Pacific Islander, other or multiethnic
- Participants
- 158 children
- Outcome
- Change in leukocyte telomere length (LTL) slope
- Follow-up
- During intervention and 1 year after end of treatment
Methodological detailssingle-group, spline mixed-effect regression models
- Single-group
- Spline mixed-effect regression models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
LTL change
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) change during intervention period, T/S units per year
0.09
95% CI 0.04 to 0.13p = 0.0001
LTL change during 1 year of follow-up after intervention, T/S units per year
−0.05
95% CI −0.08 to −0.03p < 0.0001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Predictors of LTL changes
- No predictors found among 26 social, psychological, behavioural and physiological factors
Original publication
Changes in leukocyte telomere length among children with obesity participating in a behavioural weight control program. Pediatr Obes. Published 24 October 2023. doi:10.
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