Improvements on Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors in Obese Adolescents: A Randomized Exercise Intervention Study.
BACKGROUND
It is unclear how different exercise intensities affect cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in obese adolescents. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of high-intensity (HIT) vs. low-intensity (LIT) aerobic training on CVD risk factors in obese adolescents.


METHODS
Forty-three obese adolescents (age: 15.7 ± 1.3 years, BMI: 34.3 ± 4.1 kg/m(2)) participated this study either HIT (corresponding to ventilatory threshold I; N = 20) or LIT (20% below ventilatory threshold I; N = 23) for 12 weeks. All sessions were isocaloric (350 kcal). All participants received the same nutritional, psychological, and clinical counseling. Subjects were assessed in fatness, fitness, lipid profile, and glucose at baseline and after 12 weeks. The CVD risk factors assessed were waist circumference (WC), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), glucose, and fitness, which were single and clustered analyzed (z scores sum).


RESULTS
Body mass, Body Mass Index, fatness, and WC were improved (P < .001) in both groups. The sum of z scores (WC + TC + glucose-fitness-HDL) improved in both HIT (12 weeks = -2.16 SD; Cohen's d = .45) and LIT (12 weeks = -2.13 SD; Cohen's d = .60) without groups differences. Changes in fitness were associated with changes in WC (r = -.48; P = .003).


CONCLUSIONS
HIT does not promote any additional improvements in CVD risk factors than LIT in obese adolescents.
Post Graduate Program of Physical Education, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
Humberto José
HJ
Silva
Lars Bo
LB
Andersen
Mara Cristina
MC
Lofrano-Prado
Mauro V
MV
Barros
Ismael Fortes
IF
Freitas
James
J
Hill
Wagner Luiz
WL
Prado
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055105:Waist Circumference
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids