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6-Minute Walk Test Performance in Young Children who are Normal Weight and Overweight
Neeti Pathare1, Esther M Haskvitz, Marjane Selleck
1Department of Physical Therapy, The Sage Colleges, Troy, NY.
Insights
Overweight children exhibit higher systolic blood pressure and lower oxygen saturation during the 6-minute walk test compared to normal-weight peers. Further research is needed to understand exercise performance implications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
- Understanding the physiological impact of excess weight in children is crucial.
- The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a common measure of functional exercise capacity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare 6-minute walk test (6MWT) performance between normal-weight (NW) and overweight (OW) children aged 5-9 years.
- To assess physiological parameters including heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation during the 6MWT in NW and OW children.
- To investigate potential differences in exercise response related to weight status in young children.
Main Methods:
- Seventy children (5-9 years) completed the 6MWT on an indoor walkway.
- Resting and post-6MWT measurements included heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.
- Parent-reported physical activity data were collected.
- Statistical analyses included independent t tests, ANOVA, correlation, and logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Overweight children demonstrated significantly higher systolic blood pressure at rest and post-6MWT compared to normal-weight children.
- Lower resting and post-6MWT oxygen saturation levels were observed in overweight children versus normal-weight peers.
- Systolic blood pressure was elevated in OW children (104.1 mmHg vs 97.5 mmHg resting; 118.4 mmHg vs 109.9 mmHg post-6MWT).
- Oxygen saturation was reduced in OW children (97.2% vs 98.0% resting; 96.8% vs 97.7% post-6MWT).
Conclusions:
- Overweight children exhibit distinct physiological responses during exercise, including elevated systolic blood pressure and reduced oxygen saturation.
- These findings suggest potential subclinical cardiovascular and respiratory alterations in overweight youth.
- Further investigation is warranted to determine if these physiological differences impact exercise performance and long-term health outcomes in children.
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this study was to investigate 6-minute walk test (6MWT) performance in young children who were normal weight (NW) and overweight (OW).
Methods:
Seventy children, 5-9 years of age, participated in this study. The 6MWT was performed on an indoor walkway. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) were measured. A self-reported physical activity questionnaire was completed by a parent/guardian. Data were analyzed with independent t tests, ANOVA, correlation analyses, and logistic regression.
Results:
The systolic BP values were higher in the children who were OW compared with their NW peers (resting mean 104.1 (8.9) mmHg vs. 97.5 (7.8) mmHg, P < 0.05; post-6WMT: mean 118.4 (10.78) mmHg vs. 109.9 (9.1) mmHg, P < 0.05). The SaO(2) values were lower in the children who were OW compared to their NW counterparts (resting: mean 97.2 (1.1) % vs. 98.0 (1.0) %, P < 0.05; post-6WMT: mean 96.8 (1.0) % vs. 97.7 (1.0) %, P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
The children who were OW had higher systolic BP and lower SaO(2) levels at rest and post-6WMT. More research is needed to determine if these differences contribute to children who are OW having difficulty performing exercise.
