Effect of a higher protein diet and lifestyle camp intervention on childhood obesity (The COPE study): results from a nonrandomized controlled trail with 52-weeks follow-up

In adults, diets rich in protein seem beneficial in relation to satiety, weight loss, and weight management; however, studies investigating dietary protein and weight development in children are scarce and inconsistent. This nonrandomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effect of a higher protein diet during lifestyle intervention on anthropometry and metabolic biomarkers in children with overweight and obesity.

Children (n:208) were recruited from two multicomponent lifestyle camps. One camp was assigned as the intervention group. In the intervention group, carbohydrates-rich foods at breakfast and two in-between-meals were replaced with protein-containing foods to increase the amount of protein from ~ 10–15 energy percent (E%) per day to ~ 25E% per day. Other components were similar between groups. Anthropometry and biochemical measurements were collected at baseline, 10 weeks (after camp) and 52 weeks.

The intervention group had a non-significant improvement in BMI-SDS (− 0.07 SD (− 0.19; 0.05), p = 0.24) compared to the control group, but in general, there was no effect of a higher protein diet on anthropometry and metabolic biomarkers. Overall, 10 weeks at camp resulted in a more favorable body composition [− 6.50 kg (p < 0.00), − 0.58 BMI-SDS (p < 0.00), and − 5.92% body fat (p < 0.00)], and improved metabolic health, with most changes maintained at 52 weeks.

A higher protein diet had no significant effect on body composition and metabolic health; however, these lifestyle camps are an efficiatious treatment strategy for childhood obesity.

Clinical trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov with ID: NCT04522921. Preregistered August 21st 2020.