title: School-based exercise program improves fitness, body composition and cardiovascular risk profile in overweight/obese children.
abstract: We determined the effect of a school-based exercise training (ET) without dietary intervention, on body composition, fitness and cardiovascular risk in overweight/obese children. Subjects were 51 overweight/obese 6.5- to 12.5-year-old children (23 boys, 28 girls; BMI 25.6+/-4.3 kg/m 2 ), of whom 48 completed the program. Participants were enrolled in a 15-week aerobic training (three 60-minute sessions/week). Working heart rate was between 120-185 beats/minute. Participation rate was 87%. BMI, waist circumference, body composition (bioimpedance), aerobic capacity (treadmill), blood pressure, lipids and insulin sensitivity (HOMA) were assessed. Waist circumference (85.9+/-12.4 vs. 80.9+/-10.2 cm), muscle mass (32.4+/-6.2 vs. 33.7+/-6.1 kg), maximal oxygen consumption (37.0+/-3.9 vs. 42.6+/-11.2 ml/kg per minute), systolic blood pressure (113.3+/-11.2 vs. 106.7+/-11.6 mmHg) and LDL cholesterol (2.4+/-0.6 vs. 1.9+/-0.6 mM/l) improved significantly. Number of children with abdominal obesity (29 vs. 20), hypertension (10 vs. 5) and elevated triglyceride (18 vs. 14) also declined significantly over time. We concluded that as a result of high attendance and appropriate training program, cardiovascular fitness and abdominal obesity improved in overweight/obese children along with the improvement in metabolic risk factor profile.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Food and Nutrition Science, Gyáli út 3/a, Budapest, Hungary. kovacs.viktoria@oeti.antsz.hu
authors.forename: Viktória Anna
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Zs
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fajcsák
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gábor
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martos
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids