Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess the effect of 1 week of consuming a placebo "energy drink" compared with a week of drinking regular water on daily physical activity in obese children participating in a weight reduction multidisciplinary program.
METHODS: Seventeen prepubertal (age = 128.7 [26.6] m) overweight and obese children (7 females and 10 males) participated in the study. Participants received 7 bottles of mineral water per week for 2 weeks. Different types of information were randomly provided regarding the drink consumed in each week: standard (water) versus deliberate positive information (presumed energy drink and placebo). Daily step count was measured using pedometers and compared using paired t test.
RESULTS: After consuming the placebo drink, children demonstrated a significantly higher average daily step number (10,452 [4107]) compared with the days they drank water (8168 [2928], P < .005). This difference was attributed mainly to male participants.
CONCLUSION: The use of placebo in the form of deliberate positive information was associated with a significant increase in real-life physical activity in overweight and obese children, especially in boys. Positive information may be used to encourage children with obesity to enhance daily physical activity and energy expenditure.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 120-124 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Pediatric Exercise Science |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2021 Human Kinetics, Inc.
Keywords
- Actigraphy
- Aged, 80 and over
- Child
- Energy Metabolism
- Exercise
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Overweight
- Pediatric Obesity
