Impact of a health program on metabolic profile and self-concept in adolescents with obesity

The impact of a health program for adolescents with obesity problem was analyzed. The intervention lasted 14 weeks, consisted of three conditions (control, experimental, and experimental with phototherapy) and the indicators were measures of the metabolic profile and five dimensions of the Self-concept Inventory Form. Aquasi-experimental design with pre-post measurements was applied. Control condition was only evaluated twice. An experimental group received nutritional guidance and performed physical activity. The second experimental group additionally received phototherapy sessions. Baseline differences (pretest) were analyzed, finding differences between the three conditions in triglycerides and family self-concept. Final results indicated that nutritional guidance, physical activity and phototherapy were related to improvements in the tricipital fold, triglycerides and glycemia (p < .05). The administration of any of the experimental conditions, with or without phototherapy, corresponded with better social self-concept with respect to the control group. Participation in a health program that includes nutritional guidance and physical activity can produce changes in the distribution of adiposity and social self-concept in adolescents with obesity in the short term.