Benefits in Cardiac Function from a Remote Exercise Program in Children with Obesity.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Cardiology
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Physical activity (PA) is vital for managing obesity and its complications.
• Children with obesity are at increased risk for cardiovascular issues.
• Early detection of subclinical cardiac changes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a 12-week online supervised training program on cardiac morphology, function, and blood pressure (BP) in children with obesity.
• To assess subclinical changes in heart function using advanced echocardiography.

Main Methods:

• A one-arm, pre-post longitudinal prospective study.
• Participants completed a 12-week online supervised training program (3 sessions/week, 60 min/session).
• Advanced echocardiography (tissue Doppler, longitudinal strain analysis) and BP measurements were used.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in systolic BP, diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure were observed (p < 0.05).
• Improvements noted in interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and LV global longitudinal strain.
• No significant changes in LV diastolic function or right ventricular strain.

Conclusions:

• Physical activity effectively improves BP control and left ventricle systolic function in children with obesity.
• Online exercise programs are a viable strategy for improving cardiovascular risk factors in this population.
• Supervised online training shows promise for managing pediatric obesity-related cardiovascular complications.