title: Effects of a 12-week exercise training programme on aerobic fitness, body composition, blood lipids and C-reactive protein in adolescents with obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Developing effective exercise programmes for the paediatric population is a strategy for decreasing obesity and is expected to help in eventually limiting obesity-associated long-term health and societal impact. In this study, the effects of a 12-week twice weekly additional exercise training, which comprised a combination of circuit-based resistance training and aerobic exercises, in additional to typical physical education sessions, on aerobic fitness, body composition and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipids were analysed in 13- to 14-year-old obese boys contrasted with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both the exercise group (EG, n = 12) and control group (CG, n = 12) participated in the typical 2 sessions of 40-minute physical education (PE) per week in schools, but only EG participated in additional 2 sessions per week of 45 to 60 minutes per session of exercise training, which comprised a combination of circuit-based resistance training and aerobic exercises maintained at 65% to 85% maximum heart rate (HRmax = 220 - age). Body composition was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Fasting serum CRP and blood lipids were analysed pre- and postexercise programme. Aerobic fitness was measured by an objective laboratory submaximal exercise test, PWC170 (Predicted Work Capacity at HR 170 bpm).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exercise training significantly improved lean muscle mass, body mass index, fitness, resting HR, systolic blood pressure and triglycerides in EG. Serum CRP concentrations were elevated at baseline in both groups, but training did not result in a change in CRP levels. In the CG, body weight increased significantly at the end of the 12-week period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports the value of an additional exercise training programme, beyond the typical twice weekly physical education classes, to produce physiological benefits in the management of obesity in adolescents, including prevention of weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Physical Education & Sports Science Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. pat.wong@nie.edu.sg
authors.forename: Patricia C H
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Michael Y H
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: Ian Y Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Tsou
authors.forename: Gervais K L
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Wansaicheong
authors.forename: Benedict
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: John C K
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Chung Gon
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boh
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein