Postprandial thermogenesis in obese children before and after weight reduction

The thermic effect of a meal (TEM) was measured in a group of 10 prepubertal obese children before (OB) and after (OA) weight reduction, and in a group of 10 age-matched control children (C) of normal body weight. Following a hypocaloric balanced diet for 6 ± 1 months, the obese children lost 5.2 ± 1.3 kg i.e. 11% of their initial body weight. The thermic response to the mixed liquid meal - fed at an energy level corresponding to 30% of the 24h premeal resting metabolic rate - was found to be significantly lower in OB than in C children (61 ± 25 kJ.3h-1 vs 79 ± 21 kJ.3h-1, P < 0.05), despite their higher test meal energy. After slimming, the TEM of obese children increased towards the controls' values (73 ± 30 kJ.3h-1). These results support the hypothesis of the existence of a moderate thermogenic defect in some obese children which represents a consequence rather than an aetiological factor of obesity.