The present study examined the metabolic responses to an acute bout of football and the overall and moderating role of physical fitness on these responses, in adolescents. Thirty-six adolescents (16 girls, 20 boys; 12.6±0.5 y) completed two trials (60-min football and 60-min seated rest) separated by 7-d. Capillary blood samples were taken at baseline (60-min prior to exercise/rest), immediately, 30- and 60-min post-exercise and 30-, 60- and 120-min following a standardised lunch (1.5-, 2- and 3-h post-exercise), for the determination of blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations. The median split of distance covered on the multi-stage fitness test was used to define high- and low-fit groups. Overall plasma insulin tAUC following lunch was lower in high-fit participants compared to low-fit (high-fit: 3784.2±1653.1 pmol·L-1x120min, low-fit: 6457.3±3290.7 pmol·L-1x120min; p<0.001), although there was no acute effect of the football session (p>0.05). Football reduced blood glucose concentration 1-h post-exercise compared to control (exercise: 3.8±0.6 mmol·L-1, rest: 4.6±0.8 mmol·L-1; p<0.001), but this was similar for the high- and low-fit participants (p>0.05). Blood glucose tAUC was not affected by exercise or physical fitness (p>0.05). These data emphasise the importance of physical fitness for metabolic health in adolescents, as well as the utility of football as a popular form of games-based activity for improving glucose regulation.
Keywords: Football; acute exercise; adolescents; metabolic health; postprandial response.