Videira-Silva, AntonioFonseca, Helena2022-06-082022-06-082017Eur J Pediatr. 2017 May;176(5):655-6600340-6199http://hdl.handle.net/10451/53346© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2017.Physical activity (PA) is recognized as having many health benefits. Despite of all the efforts, the majority of the overweight adolescents still present low levels of PA. PA consultation can be a cost-effective way of enhancing PA and improve weight status among overweight adolescents. The main aim of this study was to analyze whether adolescents attending a PA consultation in a clinical setting show more therapeutic success at 6 months, based on body mass index (BMI) z-score and waist circumference (WC), compared to those only followed by the pediatrician and nutritionist. Clinical records from 396 patients were analyzed: PA consultation (PAc) group, n = 198; standard consultation (STc) group, n = 198. Baseline differences between groups were analyzed using chi-square and independent sample t tests. Changes within groups and between groups were analyzed using paired sample t tests and independent sample t tests, respectively. Patients in both groups decreased their BMI z-score. The PAc has shown a higher decrease in the BMI z-score (PAc -0.12, p < 0.0001; STc -0.05, p < 0.0001). The WC of the PAc group has increased 2.2 cm less than the one of the STc group (p < 0.005). The difference in waist-to-height ratio between the PAc and STc groups was of 0.015 (p < 0.005), showing a trend to decrease in the PAc group (-0.005, p = 172).engAdolescentsBehavior changeOverweightPhysical activity consultationWeight managementjournal article10.1007/s00431-017-2892-11432-1076