Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 25, 2025
Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Impaired Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Muscle Strength in Children with Normal-Weight Obesity
Martin Musálek1, Cain C T Clark2, Jakub Kokštejn1
1Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, José Martího 31 Praha 6 Veleslavín, 162 52 Prague, Czech Republic.
Insights
Children with normal-weight obesity exhibit reduced physical fitness, including cardio-respiratory and muscular function, similar to overweight peers. Boys with normal-weight obesity showed greater deficits than girls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Sports Medicine
- Childhood Obesity Research
Background:
- Normal-weight obesity (NWO) in children is under-researched regarding its long-term health implications.
- Understanding the physical fitness (PF) of NWO children is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the physical fitness of normal-weight obese children with normal-weight non-obese and overweight/obese peers.
- To identify specific fitness deficits associated with normal-weight obesity in middle-school-aged children.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 328 middle-school children (aged 9.8 ± 0.5 years).
- Participants categorized into normal-weight obese (NWO), normal-weight non-obese (NWNO), and overweight/obese (OWO) groups.
- Physical fitness assessed via multistage fitness test, 4x10m shuttle run, sit-ups, and broad jump.
Main Results:
- Children with NWO demonstrated significantly lower cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness than NWNO peers (p < 0.01).
- NWO and OWO boys exhibited comparable deficits in lower limb strength, explosiveness, speed, coordination, and endurance compared to NWNO boys.
- Boys generally showed larger fitness deficits than girls across all groups.
Conclusions:
- Normal-weight obese children experience physical fitness deficits comparable to their overweight and obese counterparts.
- Targeted interventions may be necessary for NWO children to improve physical fitness and mitigate long-term health risks.
Abstract:
Despite the health-related implications of normal-weight obesity in children, very little research has explored the fundamental associations between this status and important long-term health parameters. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the physical fitness of children with normal-weight obesity, in comparison to normal-weight non obese and overweight and obese counterparts. A total of 328 middle-school-aged children (9.8 ± 0.5 y) took part in this study (n = 44 normal-weight obese; n = 237; normal-weight non obese; n = 47 overweight and obese). Height, weight, and body-fatness were measured. Four physical fitness tests were conducted: (1) Multistage fitness test; (2) shuttle run 4 × 10 m; (3) sit-ups for 60 s; (4) the broad jump. Welch's analysis of variance (ANOVA), stratified by sex, with post-hoc testing where necessary, was performed. Children with normal-weight obesity had significantly (p < 0.01) lower cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness than normal-weight non obese peers. In addition, normal-weight obese and overweight and obese boys had comparable deficits in strength and explosiveness of lower limbs, speed coordination, and endurance, compared to normal-weight non obese counterparts. Normal-weight obese children appear to have similar deficits in PF as their overweight and obese peers, compared to normal-weight non obese counterparts, whilst boys had larger deficits than girls.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:29Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
01:24Obesity
01:28Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...