The public defence will be held as a video conference over Zoom.
The defence will follow regular procedure as far as possible, hence it will be open to the public and the audience can ask ex auditorio questions when invited to do so.
Click here to participate in the public defence
Due to copyright reasons, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. In order for the faculty to have time to process the order, it must be received by the faculty no later than 2 days prior to the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. Inquiries regarding the thesis after the public defence must be addressed to the candidate.
Digital trial lecture - time and place
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Associate Professor Jennifer Lyn Baker, Frederiksberg Hospital, Denmark
- Second opponent: Professor Elling Tufte Bere, University of Agder, Kristiansand
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Kjetil Retterstøl, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo
Chair of defence
Professor II Trond Diseth, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
Principal supervisor
Professor II Jøran Hjelmesæth, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
Summary
Obesity during childhood and adolescence increases the likelihood of obesity in adulthood, negatively affects psychological and physical health, and is associated with increased levels of cardiovascular risk factors. Treatment aims to reduce the physical and psychological burdens associated with obesity, and to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Treatment effects are often low to moderate.
The first aim of this thesis was to investigate regional differences in modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among 2327 adolescents (12-18 years) with obesity from three tertiary care outpatient clinics in Italy, Germany and Norway. We found a high prevalence of risk factors, with the highest proportion affected by elevated non-HDL-Cholesterol (60%) in Norway, and the highest prevalence of high blood pressure (66%) among the German cohort. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Norway, Italy and Germany was 24%, 26% and 40%, respectively.
Secondly, we aimed to compare the effects on obesity, cardiovascular risk factors and HRQoL among children and parents participating in a 2-year camp-based treatment compared with an outpatient treatment, in a randomised, controlled study. The study was located at two rehabilitation clinics, two tertiary care hospitals and primary care in Norway. Families with at least one child (7-12 years) and one parent with obesity were randomised to either summer camp for two weeks and four repetition weekends or lifestyle school including four days of family education. Both groups had monthly follow-up in primary care. Treatments were based on behavioural techniques motivating families to a healthier lifestyle. The camp-based programme had significantly larger effects on obesity-specific HRQoL, BMI and some cardiovascular risk factors in children, although no significant differences were found in the primary outcome, BMI SDS, or for the parents’ BMI or HRQoL. The camp-based programme was costly compared with the out-patient treatment.
Additional information
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