Effect of physical training and its cessation on percent fat and bone density of children with obesity.
OBJECTIVE
We determined the effect of 4-month periods of physical training (PT) and detraining on percent fat (percent fat) and bone density of children with obesity.


METHODS
Subjects were 79 7- to 11-year-old children with obesity; 34 were white, 44 were black, and 1 was Asian, 26 were male and 53 were female. They were randomly assigned to two groups: group 1 engaged in PT for the first 4 months, while group 2 engaged in PT during the second 4 months. Body composition was measured with dual energy absorptiometry, and diet was measured with 4 days of recall for each 4-month period. PT was offered 5 days/week for 40 minutes/session, heart rate monitors were worn, and no dietary information was given; mean attendance was 80%, and mean heart rate per session was 157 bpm.


RESULTS
Group by time interactions across the three time-points (from analysis of variance) were significant for percent fat (p = <0.001) and bone density (p = 0.045). Both groups declined in percent fat during the periods of PT, by an average of 1.6% fat units; in the 4 months after cessation of PT, group 1 increased by 1.3% fat. In both groups, bone density increased more during periods of PT (0.025 g/cm2) than during periods of no PT (0.010 g/cm2). No significant PT vs. no-PT differences were found for dietary intake of energy, macronutrients, or calcium.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that regular exercise, without dietary intervention, can enhance the body composition of children with obesity.
Gutin
B
B
Department of Pediatrics, Georgia Prevention Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-3710, USA. bgutin@mail.mcg.edu
Owens
S
S
Okuyama
T
T
Riggs
S
S
Ferguson
M
M
Litaker
M
M
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D001823:Body Composition; D015519:Bone Density; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*