The Peds Obesity Study

Severely obese adolescents (13 to 17 year old males and post-menarcheal females between the ages of 12 and 17) will be recruited through the University of Florida Health Pediatric Weight Management Center. Therefore, all these patients would have undergone a multifaceted assessment that is part of the standard of care at the University of Florida Pediatric Weight Management Center. This includes a behavioral assessment conducted by the Center's psychologist, a detailed medical history and physical examination as well as a comprehensive laboratory testing to investigate for obesity comorbidities as indicated clinically for the individual patient. These laboratory tests include but not limited to the following: Complete Blood Count, comprehensive metabolic panel, liver enzymes, thyrotropin, fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels, fasting lipid profile and urinalysis. In addition, as part of the standard of care at the University of Florida Pediatric Weight Management Center, patients and families complete the Obesity and Quality of Life questionnaires as well as the University of Florida Pediatric Weight Management Center Physical Activity questionnaire. Inclusion criteria include adolescents with primary obesity and a BMI≥ 99th percentile for age. Exclusion criteria include current diagnosis of Type II Diabetes Mellitus; gall bladder, liver or renal disorders; known eating disorders; known endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism or polycystic ovary syndrome; pregnancy; genetic disorder, such as Prader-Willi Syndrome; mental retardation; severe depression; or use of any chronic medication that could impact appetite significantly. Patients with poor family support that might potentially preclude compliance with the study requirements will also be excluded. These diseases will be ruled out by means of medical history, physical examination and standard of care laboratory tests obtained on patients upon their entry to the University of Florida Health Pediatric Weight Management Center. A urine pregnancy test will be performed on female adolescents prior to enrolment in the study. Written informed consent will be obtained from the parent and assent from the adolescent.

These patients will participate in a high protein, restricted carbohydrates utilizing partial meal replacements diet (HPRC-PMR) after obtaining consent to participate in the study.

Behavioral counseling will be provided to all participants in the study. The behavior modification used as part of the standard of care at the University of Florida Health Pediatric Weight Management Center includes a combination of immediate, short-term, and long-term individual and family psychotherapy sessions to increase motivation to change diet and physical activity level. These treatments may also help children cope with the emotional stresses associated with being overweight and boost confidence especially within the school system. Obesity and Quality of Life survey will be completed by patients at baseline, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after enrollment. (Permission to use this survey in the Center was obtained from Obesity and Quality of Life Consulting, Durham, North Carolina, and Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH). The survey includes questions regarding physical comfort, body esteem, social life and family relations.

Patients on the HPRC-PMR diet will follow 4 phases. Please see attached table for details.

The minimum amount of protein intake should be 1 g/Kg of protein/day. All meats and fish are permitted in this phase. Lean meats should be chosen. Patients will be encouraged to avoid hunger by having meals and 3 snacks throughout the day.

Enrolled participants will have scheduled meetings with the dietitian. The schedule involves weekly meetings for the first 2 months, then every other week for additional 4 months, followed by monthly meeting for additional 6 months for each patient/family.

Participants will be encouraged via the scheduled meetings with the dietitian to manage expected slip-ups. Minor, inconsequential slip-ups usually occur when the patient is not eating at home. In these cases, patients are encouraged to avoid carbohydrates, or starchy foods and desserts. In these cases, there will be no consequences, as long as these meals don't become a habit should go back to their regular diet the next day. A major diet slip-up is a big meal with all the trimmings. Patient will be encouraged to make up for a major diet slip-up the next day by avoiding all simple and complex carbohydrates for that one day only.

All participants will be encouraged to have "break day" in the maintenance phase. It is a day where the patient goes "all-out" and enjoys whatever foods they feel like eating! Dieters who have struggled with his/her weight and beef, poultry, pork or veal in place of the meal replacement at lunch.