OBJECTIVE: To assess lifestyle habits and efficacy of a lifestyle intervention to reduce body mass index (BMI) in adolescents. METHODS: One-year randomized control trial, carried out in 48 pediatric primary care units of Catalonia. A random sample of 174 overweight and obese adolescents 10 to 14 years old was taken, 87 allocated to intervention group (IG) and 87 to control (CG). IG received baseline lifestyle counseling (food and exercise habits) plus 5 interventions at months 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12. CG received baseline intervention plus final control. Main outcome measures were: change in lifestyle habits, and of BMI and waist circumference (WC). RESULTS: Mean (SD) age was 11.81 (1.21) and 50% were female. A total of 125 participants (71.8%) completed follow-up at 12 months. Body mass index z-scores showed a significant reduction in both study groups (p < 0.001), reducing from a mean (SD) initial value of 2.35 (0.46) to final value of 2.06 (0.60), which represents approximately 12% reduction of baseline z-score, without showing differences between study groups. The waist circumference z-score also was statistically reduced in both study groups: IG from mean 2.06 to 1.77; and CG from mean 2.06 to 1.82 (p < 0.001). Counseling improved many food habits (highlighting increase of fruit, decrease of candy and habit to pick-on food when bored) but physical activities decreased instead of increasing (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle counseling was effective to reduce body mass index and waist circumference in adolescents, regardless of intensity. Counseling improved food habits, but not exercise.

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