| Childhood obesity is a serious and highly prevalent epidemic that has been linked with chronic illness, poor health outcomes, and premature mortality. Traditional interventions for childhood obesity are based on the model of traditional energy balance; however, the biological processes associated with obesity appear to be far more complicated than calories-in versus calories-out. The present study sought to bridge the gap in the literature by clarifying the role of macronutrients (i.e., proteins, carbohydrates, and fats) and micronutrients (i.e., fatty acids and fructose) on weight loss and depression in childhood obesity.;Participants in the study included 50 children between the ages of eight and 12 who completed family based treatment for childhood obesity (FBT) for childhood overweight in a guided self-help manner. Children were assessed at three separate time points, including pre-treatment, post-treatment, and six-month follow-up. Measures included anthropometry, three 24-hour recalls using the Nutrition Data Systems for Research (NDS-R), and the Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) to assess depressive symptomatology.;Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine hypothesized relationships. Results suggested a significant association between a decrease in fructose consumption and weight loss in children participating in the study, even after caloric intake was included in the model. No other findings supported changes between micronutrient intake and weight loss or depression in these children. These findings highlight the importance of attending to some micronutrient intake throughout the weight loss period when treating childhood obesity. |
