Aerobic plus resistance training was more effective in improving the visceral adiposity, metabolic profile and inflammatory markers than aerobic training in obese adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether aerobic plus resistance training (AT + RT) is more effective than aerobic training (AT) at reducing inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risk in obese adolescents. A total of 139 obese adolescents were enrolled, aged 15–19 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 95th percentile and participated in 1 year of interdisciplinary intervention. They were randomised into two groups: AT (n = 55), AT + RT (n = 61). Blood samples were collected to analyse glycaemia, insulin, the lipid profile, leptin and adiponectin concentrations. Insulin resistance was measured by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). The AT + RT group showed better results with regard to decreased body fat mass, low-density lipoprotein concentration (LDL-c) levels, subcutaneous and visceral fat and increased body lean mass. Indeed, a reduction of hyperleptinaemia and an increase in adiponectin concentrations, promoting an improvement in the leptin/adiponectin ratio, was observed. Important clinical parameters were improved in both types of exercise; however, AT + RT was more effective in improving the visceral adiposity, metabolic profile and inflammatory markers than AT alone, suggesting clinical applications for the control of intra-abdominal obesity and cardiovascular risk in the paediatric population.

Keywords:

• visceral fat
• obesity
• exercise
• adolescents

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the patients that participated in the study.

Funding

This study was supported by Fundo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo-FAPESP [grant number 2008/53069-0], [grant number 2006/00684-3], [grant number 2011/50356-0], [grant number 2011/50414-0] and [grant number 2013/041364]; Fundo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo-FAPESP [grant number Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão-CEPID/Sleep #9814303-3 S.T]; Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa-AFIP, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-CNPq, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-CAPES [grant number PNPD2566/2011]; and finally Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP supported the Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e Exercício-CEPE and Grupo de Estudos da Obesidade-GEO.