title: Is Physical Fitness Associated with Health in Overweight and Obese Youth? A Systematic Review.
abstract: A systematic review of literature was conducted to examine the association between changes in health-related fitness (e.g. aerobic capacity and muscular strength /endurance) and chronic disease risk factors in overweight and/or obese youth. Studies published from 2000-2010 were included if the physical activity intervention was a randomized controlled trial and reported changes in fitness and health outcomes by direction and significance (p< 0.05) of the effect. Aerobic capacity improved in 91% and muscular fitness improved in 82% of measures reported. Nearly all studies (32 of 33) reported improvement in at least one fitness test. Changes in outcomes related to adiposity, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, metabolic, and mental/emotional health improved in 60%, 32%, 53%, 41%, and 33% of comparisons studied, respectively. In conclusion, overweight and obese youth can improve physical fitness across a variety of test measures. When fitness improves, beneficial health effects are observed in some, but not all chronic disease risk factors.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA.
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Millard-Stafford
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Becasen
authors.affiliation: Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia SC.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Beets
authors.affiliation: Division of Population Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
authors.forename: Allison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nihiser
authors.affiliation: Division of Population Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
authors.forename: Janet E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fulton
keywords: Aerobic capacity; adiposity; adolescents; cardiovascular; children; muscular endurance; muscular strength; obesity