title: Different consecutive training protocols to design an intervention program for overweight youth: a controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find the optimal exercise program to be recommended in reducing adiposity and promoting long-term physical activity adherence in a sample of overweight adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five overweight adolescents were randomly divided into three exercise groups, to perform two phases of physical activity as follows: in the first phase, the first group performed a 16-week moderate-intensity resistance training (RT), the second group performed a 16-week high-intensity RT, and the third group performed a 16-week aerobic training (AT); in the second phase, all groups performed a 6-week AT. Anthropometric body composition and fitness measures were considered as outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the second protocol, both RT groups showed a significant improvement in percentage of fat mass (F2,76= 5.843;p= 0.004;h2= 0.133) and free fat mass (F2,76= 6.254;p= 0.003;h2= 0.141), and in fitness tests (p< 0.01). The VO2max values of the RT groups were significantly higher than those of the AT group (F2,38= 4.264;p= 0.021;h2= 0.183). The rate of adherence to exercise was an average of 94% in both RT groups, whereas in the AT group, it was 83%. During the 12-week post-intervention follow-up, the number of participants who continued to perform physical activities was significantly higher in both the RT groups than in the AT group (p< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides preliminary evidence that moderate-to-intense RT, followed by AT, can be an effective treatment for overweight adolescents, and the positive effects are maintained even after 12 weeks of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiorilli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iuliano
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aquino
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Emidio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campanella
authors.affiliation: Department of Motor and Health Sciences, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsopani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Costanzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calcagno
authors.affiliation: Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: di Cagno
keywords: adherence; adolescents; exercise; obesity; resistance training