DIETARY FIBRE AND ITS EFFECT ON WEIGHT LOSS IN INDIAN

CHILDRENBy Dr.Neha Chavan

Guided by Mrs. Anuradha Shekar

Global consumption of Dietary fibre

Dietary fibre Edmund,G. defines it as edible polysaccharide related polymer lignin which are resistant to hydrolysis by digestive enzymes of man, crude fiber represents 1/7 th of total dietary fibre in given food. It is of 2 types:Soluble fibre dissolves in water. It changes

as it goes through the digestive tract, where it is fermented by bacteria. As it absorbs water it becomes gelatinous.Insoluble fibre does not dissolve in water. As it goes through the digestive tract it does not change its form.

Banana as a source of Dietary fibre

•Natural soluble source of dietary fibre.•1medium sized banana contains aprrox 3 gms of dietary fibre. •It is cheap.•Easily available in all seasons.•Promotes feeling of fullness and satiety.•Good source of energy, vitamins like vitamin B6, vitamin C and minerals like potassium and magnesium which prevents heart disease and obesity.

Childhood Obesity Rates

obesity has become a colossal epidemic causing serious public health concern and contributes to 2.6 million deaths worldwide every year. The last two decades of the previous century have witnessed dramatic increase in health care costs due to obesity and related issues among children and adolescents. (William, D.et al 1994)

Management of Childhood overweight and obesity

Aim of the study: The aim of the present study was to evaluate

the effect of Dietary fibre in the form of Banana on Weight loss in Indian overweight children of age group 4-13 years.

Objectives of the studyTo determine eating habits of children of age

group 4-13 yrs.To assess Nutritional status of children

through 24 hour Dietary Recall method.To assess Nutritional status of children

through Anthropometry.To correlate dietary fibre intake with obesity

in children of age group 4-13 yrs.To compare the effect of Dietary fibre on

Anthropometry and eating habbits of children.

Methodology

3 month intervention study on 60 Indian overweight children to study the effect on dietary fibre in form of banana.

Anthropometric measurements were taken at baseline, after 1 month, 2 months and 3 months.-weight, BMI, waist circumference, MUACDietary intake-Energy, protein dietary fibre was collected by 24 hour dietary recall method.Physical activity was calculated in minutes.

Statistical analysis for interpretation of data was done by a statistician.Followed by results and discussion

ResultsBackground information :60 Hindu Overweight children of age group 4-13 years

were selected randomly of middle class background out of which 37 were boys and 23 were girls

30 cases 30 controlsGiven supplementation Not given any

supplementation in form of BananaAt the end of each month Anthropometric

measurements – weight, BMI, waist circumference, MUAC were calculated

Weight at baseline, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months of cases and controls when classified according to gender

Controls Cases Controls CasesBoys Girls

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

Wei

ght (

kg)

** * *

!! !

## # #

At most time points, cases or supplementation group lost more weight as compared to controls, similar results were observed in all other anthropometric measurements.

Monthly Percentage weight change of cases and controls when classified according to gender

Boy (n=37) Girl (n=23)

Controls

(n=19)

Cases

(n=18)

P value Controls

(n=11)

Cases

(n=12)

P value

1st month 1.2±0.8 1.3±0.8 0.830 1.0±1.1 1.4±1.5 0.475

2nd month 1.2±1.2 1.0±0.7 0.504 1.3±0.6 1.5±10.4 0.354

3rd month 0.3±0.6 1.7±0.7 0.000 0.4±0.6 1.6±0.7 0.000

As seen in the above table the percentage weight loss after 3 months of supplementation was much higher in the cases than in the controls for both boys as well as girl participants. The effect if assessed gender wise was similar as there was no significant difference between weight loss in girls than in the boys and vice versa. When the fibre was supplemented in cases, significant results ie. Weight reduction was observed in 3rd month with the p value of 0.000.

BMI at baseline, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months of cases and controls when classified according to gender

Controls Cases Controls CasesBoys Girls

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

22.0

24.0

26.0

28.0

Bod

y M

ass I

ndex

(kg/

m2)

**

**

!!

!

## # #

In cases BMI reduction was significantly higher as compared to controls during the 3rd month of supplementation in both boys and girls (p<0.05) High fibre content of banana was found to reduce BMI in supplementation group of subject with age of 10 years in a study by Juan, Story and Kranz (2012).

Waist circumference at baseline, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months of cases and controls when classified according to gender

Controls Cases Controls CasesBoys Girls

35.040.045.050.055.060.065.070.0

Wai

st C

ircu

mfe

renc

e (c

m)

* * * *! !

!!# # #

In cases waist circumference reduction was significantly higher as compared to controls during the 3rd month of supplementation in both boys and girls. The supplementation of banana reduces the accumulation of visceral fat and fat storage in the adipose tissues which leads to decreased waist circumference in the people who consume high fibre foods like fruits and vegetables on a regular basis. (Colbert, D., 2013).

Mid upper arm circumference at baseline, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months of cases and controls when classified according to gender

Controls Cases Controls CasesBoys Girls

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

22.0

Mid

Upp

er A

rm C

ircu

m-

fere

nce

(cm

)*

**

*

!!

!

!

#

#

The mid upper arm circumference was seen to be reduced considerably on supplementation of banana to the cases. The consumption of banana was associated with reduction in food craving at regular intervals and the subjects were found to be feeling full due to the high pectin content for a longer period of time and thus ate less after consumption of banana as a snack (Tupper ,2013). s

Conclusion of the studyPositive significant (p= 0.000) correlations were observed

between supplementation of dietary fibre and weight loss in Indian overweight children of age group 4-13 years of age.

When the fibre was supplemented in cases, significant results ie. Weight reduction was observed in 3rd month with the p value of 0.000. Thus, the present research would like to state that the supplementation of banana in the participants showed significant loss in weight after a period of 3 months.

The weight, BMI, Waist circumference and mid upper arm circumference was found to be reduced in cases considerably as compared to controls on supplementation of banana to the cases.

The consumption of banana was associated with reduction in food craving at regular intervals and the subjects were found to be feeling full due to the high pectin content for a longer period of time and thus ate less after consumption of banana as a snack. (Tupper ,2013).

Limitations of the studyThe period of this research study is also limited ie.3

months, therefore a longer period was needed to find the more accurate effect of Banana as a natural source of dietary fibre for weight loss in children.

There may be a limitation of accurately measuring weights and heights. Thus, the technical limitation in data collection appear not to have adversely affected the quality of the data.

The importance in long term regulation of body weight of adding fibre to the diet can however not be predicted from the present study. More research on the impact of fibre rich diet as well as different types of dietary fibre on energy and macronutrient metabolism, both acutely and in the long term is therefore needed.

Thank you