Sustained improvements in fitness and exercise tolerance in obese adolescents after a 12 week exercise intervention

Megan L Gow; Nancy van Doorn; Carolyn R Broderick; Louise L Hardy; Mandy Ho; Louise A Baur; Chris T Cowell; Sarah P Garnett

doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2015.04.001

Sustained improvements in fitness and exercise tolerance in obese adolescents after a 12 week exercise intervention

Obes Res Clin Pract. 2016 Mar-Apr;10(2):178-88. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2015.04.001. Epub 2015 May 8.

Authors

Megan L Gow¹, Nancy van Doorn², Carolyn R Broderick², Louise L Hardy³, Mandy Ho⁴, Louise A Baur⁵, Chris T Cowell⁶, Sarah P Garnett⁶

Affiliations

¹ The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia. Electronic address: megan.gow@health.nsw.gov.au.
² School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; The Children's Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
³ NSW Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Research Group (PANORG), School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁴ The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
⁵ The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Kids Research Institute, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
⁶ The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Kids Research Institute, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.

PMID: 25959765
DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2015.04.001

Abstract

A 12 week exercise program was evaluated for its effect on aerobic fitness, anaerobic threshold, physical activity and sedentary behavior levels in obese insulin resistant adolescents post intervention and at follow up. 111 obese insulin resistant 10-17 year olds were recruited to a 12 month lifestyle intervention, known as RESIST. From months 4 to 6, adolescents participated in supervised exercise sessions twice per week (45-60min/session). Aerobic fitness and anaerobic threshold were measured by gas analysis at baseline, 6 months (post intervention) and 12 months (follow up). Self-reported physical activity and sedentary behavior was measured using the CLASS questionnaire. At 6 months aerobic fitness and time to reach the anaerobic threshold had improved by 5.8% [95% CI: 0.8-11.3] and 19.7% [95% CI: 10.4-29.0], respectively compared with baseline. These improvements were maintained at 12 months. Compared to baseline, 6 month physical activity levels increased by 19min/day [95% CI: 5-33] and screen time decreased by 49min/day [95% CI: 23-74] but returned to baseline levels by 12 months. Improved fitness and anaerobic threshold can be sustained up to 6 months following completion of an exercise program possibly enhancing capacity to perform daily functional tasks.

Keywords: Adolescents; Aerobic fitness; Anaerobic threshold; Exercise tolerance; RESIST.

Publication types

Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Child
Exercise / physiology*
Exercise Tolerance*
Female
Humans
Male
Pediatric Obesity / physiopathology*
Pediatric Obesity / therapy
Physical Fitness*
Sedentary Behavior
Self Report