Weight loss in obese adolescents is more effective depending on the length of their telomeres. This is demonstrated in the latest research led by the University of Navarra within the project EVASYON -a therapeutic program for overweight and obese adolescents in which several Spanish centers participate-.           

It is already known that these biomarkers of cellular age - the longer the telomeres, or chromosome ends, the younger the age of the cells and thus the "younger" the organism - are strongly influenced by lifestyle. "In fact, they mark cellular age, which does not necessarily coincide with chronological age. For this reason, smoking, inactivity or an unhealthy diet shorten the telomeres and in some way age the organism, even if one is young chronologically speaking," explains Dr. Azcona San Julián, of the Pediatrics Department of the Clínica Universidad de Navarracenter partner of the study

According to the coordinator of the study, Professor of Physiology Amelia Martí, Genetics also plays a key role in telomere length: "That is why in this work we have assessed the effect of genetic variants of interleukin 6, a molecule related to chronic inflammation, since this, and oxidative stress, are associated with obesity and accelerated telomere shortening".

The result of their research - in which 66 overweight or obese young people from all over Spain participated - showed that volunteers whose telomeres were longer responded significantly better to the nutritional intervention, which consisted of a two-month intensive program to lose weight and acquire healthy lifestyle habits. 

More quality sleep and fewer screens

In addition, the volunteers were followed up for a year and the experts were able to verify that most of them had maintained the weight loss achieved and, more importantly, maintained healthier habits. "Addressing obesity in adolescence is essential to avoid the many problems they will face as adults. In this sense, it is especially important that they acquire healthy practices -regular exercise but also a minimum number of hours of sleep-, less use of screens, that they dedicate time to eating well as a family and avoid eating out of hours, reduce or eliminate sugary drinks and lead an orderly life", explains the researcher from the University of Navarra.

Multidisciplinary teams from Granada, Madrid, Pamplona (GENOI) and Zaragoza, as well as the CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn) have participated in the work, published in the journal Pediatric Obesity -the fifth journal with the highest impact of the 120 publications of its specialization program-.