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

Savina Mannarino, Sara Santacesaria, Irene Raso, Massimo Garbin, Andreana Pipolo, Silvia Ghiglia, Gabriele Tarallo, Annalisa De Silvestri, Matteo Vandoni, Daniela Lucini, Vittoria Carnevale Pellino, Giuseppina Bernardelli, Alessandro Gatti, Virginia Rossi, Valeria Calcaterra () and Gianvincenzo Zuccotti
Additional contact information
Savina Mannarino: Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Sara Santacesaria: Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Irene Raso: Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Massimo Garbin: Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Andreana Pipolo: Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Silvia Ghiglia: Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Gabriele Tarallo: Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Annalisa De Silvestri: Biometry & Clinical Epidemiology, Scientific Direction, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Matteo Vandoni: Laboratory of Adapted Motor Activity (LAMA), Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensic Science, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Daniela Lucini: BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
Vittoria Carnevale Pellino: Laboratory of Adapted Motor Activity (LAMA), Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensic Science, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Giuseppina Bernardelli: Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, 20135 Milan, Italy
Alessandro Gatti: Laboratory of Adapted Motor Activity (LAMA), Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensic Science, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Virginia Rossi: Pediatric Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Valeria Calcaterra: Pediatric Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Gianvincenzo Zuccotti: Pediatric Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: Physical activity (PA) is a crucial factor in preventing and treating obesity and related complications. In this one-arm pre–post longitudinal prospective study, we evaluated the effects of a 12-week online supervised training program on cardiac morphology, function and blood pressure (BP) in children with obesity. The training program consisted of three sessions per week, each lasting 60 min. Advanced echocardiographic imaging (tissue Doppler and longitudinal strain analysis) was used to detect subclinical changes in heart function. Categorical variables were described as counts and percentages; quantitative variables as the mean and standard deviation (SD) as they were normally distributed (Shapiro–Wilks test). Pre–post comparisons were made with a paired t -test. A total of 27/38 (71%) enrolled patients (18M/9F, 11 ± 2 years) completed the training protocol and were considered in the analysis. At baseline, no hypertensive patient was noted; all echocardiographic variables were within the normal range. After training, we observed a significant reduction in BP parameters, including systolic BP values and Z-score, diastolic BP values, centiles and Z-score, and mean arterial pressure (all p < 0.05). Significant variations in echocardiographic interventricular septum (IVSd) thickness ( p = 0.011), IVSd Z-score ( p = 0.001), left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic diameter ( p = 0.045), LV posterior wall thickness Z-score ( p = 0.017), and LV global longitudinal strain ( p = 0.016) were detected. No differences in LV diastolic function and right ventricular strain were noted. PA plays a decisive role in improving BP control and has benefits on left ventricle systolic function, representing a strategic approach to limit CV risk. Online exercise could be an excellent method of training in children with obesity.

Keywords: obesity; cardiac function; cardiac morphology; children; adolescents; physical activity; remote exercise; cardiovascular prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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