One-hour after-school exercise ameliorates central adiposity and lipids in overweight Chinese adolescents: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Chinese children and adolescents was increasing during the past few decades. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of after-school exercise with or without diet restriction on total and central obesity, fitness level, and metabolic profile in overweight Chinese adolescents.

METHODS:

A ten-week weight loss trial was performed using a 2 × 2 block design (exercise × diet). Ninety-three overweight adolescents (average age: (13.6 ± 0.7) years; body mass index (BMI): 22.4 - 34.1 kg/m(2)) were randomly assigned to four groups: 1) diet (D); 2) exercise (EX); 3) diet plus exercise (DEX); and 4) overweight control (C). Caloric intake recipes were enacted based on individual age and corresponding ideal body weight. One-hour after-school exercise was performed once per day, four days per week for ten weeks. Changes of anthropometry, body composition, aerobic fitness, and metabolic biomarkers were determined.

RESULTS:

Groups D, EX and DEX had a significant decrease in BMI (P < 0.01) after the intervention. The percentage of body and truncal fat, and waist circumference were independently reduced by exercise (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), but not diet. The decrease in body fat percentage was positively related with the exercise compliance (r = 0.34, P = 0.01). Exercise decreased truncal fat percentage and waist circumference, suggesting a reduction of central adiposity, but did not significantly affect body weight and BMI. Exercise significantly reduced serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.037), which was positively correlated with decreases of truncal fat percentage (r = 0.222, P = 0.048). No significant effects of interventions on insulin sensitivity, early insulin release index, and aerobic fitness were observed.

CONCLUSION:

At least twice a week of one-hour after-school exercise significantly attenuated central adiposity and had a significant impact on lipid profiles in overweight Chinese adolescents.

• Authors: Ming-Xiao Sun, Xiu-Qing Huang, Yi Yan, Bo-Wen Li, Wei-Juan Zhong, Jun-Fei Chen, Yi-Min Zhang, Zheng-Zhen Wang, Lu Wang, Xiao-Cai Shi, Jian Li, Min-Hao Xie
• Journal: Chinese medical journal (Chin Med J (Engl)) Vol. 124 Issue 3 Pg. 323-9 (Feb 2011) ISSN: 2542-5641 [Electronic] China
• PMID: 21362327 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adiposity (physiology)
• Adolescent
• Asian People
• Body Composition (physiology)
• Body Mass Index
• Body Weight (physiology)
• Child
• Exercise (physiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Overweight (diet therapy, metabolism, therapy)
• Waist Circumference