Exercise training improves body composition, blood lipid profile and serum insulin levels in obese children

Increasing prevalence of obesity and related diseases especially in children and adolescent has gained more scientific attention. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of regular exercise on childhood obesity often associated with clinical conditions such as hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes already at a young age.

The subjects were 40 obese children at 11 ± 1 years and with Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 30 kg/m2 who volunteered to the study and randomly classified into exercising and non-exercising control group. Physical load of the exercising group was first determined by the Karvonen protocol after which to the subjects underwent a 12-week aerobic exercise training program primary consisting of walking and jogging exercise. Blood pressure, biochemical cardiovascular risk factors and body composition were assessed before and after the exercise-training period and compared to the non-exercising control group.

In the exercising group, statistically significant changes were observed in the circumference of forearm, elbow, calf, knee, waist, chest and hip, as well as skin fold thickness of chest, subscapulae, calf, abdomen, suprailiac and leg. Similarly, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL and insulin levels were found to be lower and HDL levels higher than in the non-exercising control group.

While treating obesity in children, a major emphasis should be directed towards increasing regular physical activity and supported with dietary interventions. By this approach the risk of other chronic diseases often associated with obesity could be minimized thereby improving the quality of life.