Effectiveness of Fitness Training in Obese Children

Abstract

Background: Obesity is an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Children and adolescents with a body mass index over the 85th centile for age are classified overweight and those over the 95th centile, obese. Childhood obesity however can also lead to life-threatening conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, sleep problems, cancer, and other disorders. A physically active lifestyle as a child or as an adolescent is conducive to a healthy lifestyle and preventing disease, where as a sedentary lifestyle is associated with chronic disease and ill health. Available prevalence shows that childhood overweight and obesity are increasing dramatically in developed and developing countries. Childhood obesity can be brought on by a range of factors which often act in combination. Fitness training is needed to prevent secondary complication which occurred due to obesity. It is used to maintain the strength and endurance in the obese children. The purpose of the study is to find the effectiveness of fitness training in young obese children improve the functional activities in children and prevent the long term hazards of obesity and inactivity in children. Results: 25 participants were selected in the study. The intervention was given for twelve weeks, thrice in a week. The training time duration for every session was approximately 60 minutes with adequate rest periods in between. Post intervention data was collected for 4th, 8th and 12th week. The results showed extremely significant changes in BMI (p = 0.0007), Weight (p=0.0004) and Heart rate (p = 0.0009). Conclusions: The fitness training is effective in obese children.

Childhood obesity, effects on the cardiovascular system and quality of life: The role of physical therapy

“…The purpose of including physical activity in the weight loss program is to increase energy expenditure and reduce excess fat, which is best achieved with continuous aerobic exercise using large muscle groups. It is important to encourage children to do regular exercise because, the habits that are cultivated during childhood are transferred to adulthood and thus to the prevention of many diseases such as cardiorespiratory disease, high blood lipids and hypertension (Khan et al, 2016).…”