OBJECTIVE: To study two years follow-up of obese children and adolescents from a specialized out-patient clinic. METHODS: This cohort study with retrospective collection of data enrolled 150 patients (1 to 19 years old, 53% males, 63% from Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, and at mean age of 4.3 years when they started the weight gain). All patients were followed at the Obesity Out-Patient Clinic of the Clinical Hospital of Campinas University. Out of the 150 patients, 128 returned once and weight, height, body mass index (BMI) measurements and Z scores were obtained. Laboratory exams were colleted: hemoglobin, lipids, fasting glucose and fasting insulin. Glucose/insulin ratio was calculated. Patients were divided in two groups, if they returned or not to the clinic. Difference between both groups were analyzed regarding age, gender, city of origin, age when the weight gain started, acanthosis nigricans, weight, height, BMI Z score and proportion of altered laboratory exams. The difference in BMI Z score in relation to the first visit was also analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 128 patients, 57% continued to be followed in the clinic and 114 returned at least once. Comparing groups, patients from Campinas fail more to return. There were no differences in the clinical, anthropometric and laboratory variables. Both groups showed lower mean BMI Z score in the return visit compared to the first visit. CONCLUSIONS: The obese children and adolescents from the follow-up clinic showed a reduction in the mean BMI Z score similar to published data. The rate of dropping follow-up was high, but no variable could explain it, except for the patient origin.
obesity; anthropometry; hematologic tests; child; adolescent
