Effect of concurrent training on gender-specific biochemical variables and adiposity in obese adolescents

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effects of a 20-week concurrent training (20 WCT) intervention program on gender-specific body composition and metabolic variables in obese adolescents. Subjects and methods: Sample was composed of twenty-five obese adolescents, aged between 12 and 15 (13.4 ± 0.96) years. Fat-free mass (FFM), percentage trunk fat mass (TFM%) and percentage fat mass (%FM) were evaluated through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Measurement of intra-abdominal adiposity (IAAT) was performed using ultrasound. Blood pressure was measured and blood samples analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), triglycerides (TG) and plasma glucose. All participants performed the concurrent training (combination of weight training and aerobic training) three times per week, one hour per day, for 20 weeks. Descriptive analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures were used to compare baseline, 10 week and 20 week moments using the Bonferroni post-hoc test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Significant decrease in TC, LDLc and TFM% were verified in both genders after the 10 initial weeks of concurrent training. Results: A significant increase in height was found in both the male and female groups (p = 0.001 and p = 0.047, respectively), after 20 weeks of concurrent training. In addition, several modifications were observed in body composition and metabolic variables, with a significant decrease in BMI (p = 0.002 and p = 0.017), BMI z-score (p = 0.033 and p = 0.004), FM% (p = 0.002 and p = 0.002), TFM% (p = 0.009 and p = 0.018), TC (p = 0.042 and p = 0.001) and LDL-c (p = 0.006 and p = 0.001) in the male and female groups, respectively, after 20 weeks of intervention when compared with baseline. Conclusion: Our results identified that concurrent training was an effective intervention for treating metabolic variable and body composition disorders, in both genders, by decreasing adiposity with consequent improvement in BMI and BMI z-scores, and enhancement in lipid profile variables. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2015;59(4):303-9

Concurrent aerobic plus resistance exercise versus aerobic exercise alone to improve health outcomes in paediatric obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Similar results were reported in overweight and obese adults, again indicating that concurrent exercise is the most efficacious means to reduce obesity 13. Also, studies in obese boys39 40 and girls40 41 separately showed that combined training (12–20 weeks) favour a reduction of ∼3% in body adiposity, results are consistent with ours. A recent meta-analysis reported similar, but less reduction in adiposity among obese youth for exercise versus non-exercise controls (1.93% in the fat mass percentage) 42.…”

“…Our meta-analysis indicates that concurrent exercise is more effective in reducing LDL cholesterol than AT programmes, with medium effect (SMD=−0.35) 38. Evidence suggests that intensity of effort may drive the positive effect of concurrent exercise training 40. Although lipids are the principle fuel for sustaining activities of moderate intensity, activities of lower intensity are important for controlling fasting serum lipids and should be encouraged in sedentary obese adolescents 43.…”

Effects of Concurrent Strength and Aerobic Training on Blood Glucose Homeostasis and Lipid Profile in Females with Overweight and Obesity

“…It is reported that higher skeletal muscle mass is associated with lower HbA1c supporting the hypothesis that resistance training helps better glycemic control by ramping up the skeletal muscle storage of glucose (33). Inconsistent with the current study findings, Antunes et al, observed a reduction in fasting blood sugar after a 20-week concurrent training on adolescents with obesity and the age range of 12 -15 years (mean: 13.4 ± 0.96) (26).…”

“…First, the participants' rest heart rate (HR) was recorded and then their target HR was calculated by the Karvonen formula. The participants started the trainings on bicycle (15 minutes) and treadmill (15 minutes) with 50% -60% of target HR for 30 minutes at the week 1, and they reached 70% -80% of target heart rate by the weeks 7 and 8 (26). A treadmill and bicycle pulse test was used to check the target HR.…”

Dance in the Treatment of Childhood Obesity: A Proposed Protocol

“…Regarding lipid profile, in this study there was no significant difference in the blood variables after the training period. A study carried out using children and adolescents subjected to a 20-week concurrent training protocol showed a significant reduction in LDL, triglyceride, and total cholesterol values 23 .…”