Weight Loss Associated with Exercise Training Restores Ventilatory Efficiency in Obese Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that in obese children: 1) Ventilatory efficiency (VentE) is decreased during graded exercise; and 2) Weight loss through diet alone (D) improves VentE, and 3) diet associated with exercise training (DET) leads to greater improvement in VentE than by D. Thirty-eight obese children (10+/-0.2 years; BMI >95th percentile) were randomly divided into two study groups: D (n=17; BMI=30+/-1 kg/m (2)) and DET (n=21; 28+/-1 kg/m (2)). Ten lean children were included in a control group (10+/-0.3 years; 17+/-0.5 kg/m (2)). All children performed maximal treadmill testing with respiratory gas analysis (breath-by-breath) to determine the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) and peak oxygen consumption (VO (2) peak). VentE was determined by the VE/VCO (2) method at VAT. Obese children showed lower VO (2) peak and lower VentE than controls (p<0.05). After interventions, all obese children reduced body weight (p<0.05). D group did not improve in terms of VO (2) peak or VentE (p>0.05). In contrast, the DET group showed increased VO (2) peak (p=0.01) and improved VentE (DeltaVE/VCO (2)=-6.1+/-0.9; p=0.01). VentE is decreased in obese children, where weight loss by means of DET, but not D alone, improves VentE and cardiorespiratory fitness during graded exercise.

Interventions for the treatment of obesity among children and adolescents in Latin America: a systematic review

“…[17][18][19][20] Table I contains details of each study, including the country where the intervention was conducted, the focus and duration of the intervention, frequency of sessions, effect sizes for primary outcomes, and study designs. The total number of sessions for the entire duration of the intervention ranged, from 4 to 120 with a median of 41 sessions.…”

“…Of the four studies, effect size (Cohen's d) was considered small for one intervention, 20 sufficient for two interventions 17,18 and large for one intervention. 19 Figure 1 depicts the effect sizes for two outcomes. Study execution was based on the number of limitations identified through abstraction.…”

“…[18][19][20] Study design was rated as greatest for two studies (i.e., randomized controlled trial [RCT]) 17,19 and least for three (i.e., pre-post design). 18,20 Various healthcare settings were used to implement interventions.…”

“…However, one intervention utilized a multidisciplinary team. 19 Intervention details are outlined in table II. All interventions targeted children considered to be obese, and one intervention had components that involved the parents.…”

“…19 The average age of participants for four studies was found to be 11.5 years, with study means ranging from 9.9 to 16.9 years. One study only provided an age range for participating adolescents.…”