The effect of high-intensity progressive resistance training on adiposity in children: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
High-intensity progressive resistance training (PRT) improves adiposity and metabolic risk in adults, but has not been investigated in children within a randomized controlled trial (RCT).


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that high-intensity PRT (8 weeks, twice a week) would decrease central adiposity in children, as assessed via waist circumference. METHODS DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Concealed randomization stratified by age and gender was used to allocate rural New Zealand school students to the wait-list control or PRT group.


METHODS
Participants were prescribed two sets (eight repetitions per set) of 11 exercises targeting all the major muscle groups at high intensity.


METHODS
Waist circumference; secondary outcomes included whole body fat, muscular fitness (one repetition maximum), cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen consumption during a treadmill test), lipids, insulin sensitivity and fasting glucose.


RESULTS
Of the 78 children (32 girls and 46 boys; mean age 12.2(1.3) years), 51% were either overweight (33%) or obese (18%). High-intensity PRT significantly improved waist circumference (mean change PRT -0.8 (2.2) cm vs +0.5 (1.7) cm control; F=7.59, P=0.008), fat mass (mean change PRT +0.2 (1.4) kg vs +1.0 (1.2) kg control; F=6.00, P=0.017), percent body fat (mean change PRT -0.3 (1.8)% vs +1.2 (2.1)% control; F=9.04, P=0.004), body mass index (mean change PRT -0.01 (0.8) kg m(-2) vs +0.4 (0.7) kg m(-2) control; F=6.02, P=0.017), upper body strength (mean change PRT+11.6(6.1) kg vs +2.9(3.7) kg control; F=48.6, P<0.001) and lower body strength (mean change PRT +42.9(26.6) kg vs +28.5(26.6) kg control; F=4.72, P=0.034) compared to the control group. Waist circumference decreased the most in those with the greatest baseline relative strength (r=-0.257, P=0.036), and greatest relative (r=-0.400, P=0.001) and absolute (r=0.340, P=0.006) strength gains during the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Isolated high-intensity PRT significantly improves central and whole body adiposity in association with muscle strength in normal-weight and overweight children. The clinical relevance and sustainability of these changes in adiposity should be addressed in future long-term studies.
Benson
A C
AC
Discipline of Exercise Sciences, The School of Medical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. acbkiwi@clear.net.nz
Torode
M E
ME
Fiatarone Singh
M A
MA
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009520:New Zealand; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D055070:Resistance Training; D013334:Students; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol