Effects of a Mixed Exercise Program on Overweight and Obese Children and Adolescents: A Pilot, Uncontrolled Study

Roberto Pippi, Gabriele Mascherini, Pascal Izzicupo, Vittorio Bini and Carmine Giuseppe Fanelli
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Roberto Pippi: Healthy Lifestyle Institute, C.U.R.I.A.Mo. (Centro Universitario Ricerca Interdipartimentale Attività Motoria), Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Via G. Bambagioni, 19, 06126 Perugia, Italy
Gabriele Mascherini: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Pascal Izzicupo: Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University “G. D’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Vittorio Bini: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Via Gambuli, 1, 06132 Perugia, Italy
Carmine Giuseppe Fanelli: Healthy Lifestyle Institute, C.U.R.I.A.Mo. (Centro Universitario Ricerca Interdipartimentale Attività Motoria), Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Via G. Bambagioni, 19, 06126 Perugia, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-16

Abstract: Pediatric excess weight has reached severity worldwide, affecting physical health. Decreasing weight and body mass index (BMI) after exercise intervention reduces the cardiometabolic consequences; the role of age and gender on the effectiveness of exercise in overweight youth was debated in this study. A total of 138 overweight/obese young (75 girls, 63 boys) were recruited at Perugia (Italy) University to follow an exercise program. Participants were allocated into two groups (children, n = 88 and adolescents, n = 50). The study aimed to verify the efficacy of a mixed resistance–endurance exercise program in anthropometric and physical performance measures, evaluating the influence of gender and age on two groups of young overweight/obese participants. In children, we observed a statistically significant improvement in fat mass percentage, fat-free mass, waist circumference (WC), fat mass, as well as in strength, endurance, speed, and flexibility measures. We also observed reduced WC and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) values in girls. In the adolescents’ subgroup, results showed a statistically significant variation in fat mass percentage, BMI, WC, and WHtR, and strength of the upper and lower limbs; we also observed a weight reduction in girls. A clinical approach, with the combination of strength and dynamometric tests plus the body composition study using air plethysmography methodology, is health-effective and allows for the monitoring of the efficacy of an exercise program in overweight/obese young people.

Keywords: body composition; strength; obesity; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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