Best Exercise for Overweight Teens

JAMA Pediatrics published a research study on The Healthy Eating Aerobic and Resistance Training in Youth (HEARTY) that included 304 overweight teens between the ages of 14 to 18. All were given the same four weeks of diet counseling to promote healthy eating and weight loss before being randomly placed into four groups: 1) resistance training involving weight machines and some free weights; 2) only aerobic exercise on treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bikes; 3) combined aerobic and resistance training; and 4) no exercise training.

The following results were recorded:
1. each type of exercise reduced body fat significantly and similarly.
2. all three exercise programs caused significantly more fat loss than in the diet-only control group.
3. the teens who completed at least 70 per cent of the study's exercise sessions (4x/week for 22 weeks), the percentage of body fat decreased significantly more in those who did combined aerobic and resistance exercise than in those who only did aerobic exercise. In addition, waist circumference decreased close to seven centimeters in the combined aerobic plus resistance exercise group, versus about four centimeters in the groups with only one type of exercise, with no change in those randomized to diet only.

Reference: University of Calgary. Research study analyzes best exercise for obese youths. Retrieved from the web on 9/27/14 at http://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2014-09-23/research-study-analyzes-best-exercise-obese-youths

Association Between Strength and Body Weight in Children

Pediatrics published research on strength and body weight in 1224 US children and adolescents in order to provide reference values on 4 core, upper, and lower body measures of muscle strength and to determine the association between these measures of strength and weight status.  The 4 measures of muscle strength were plank, modified pull-up, knee extension, and grip strength.

The following results were reported:
1.  mean and median estimates are provided by gender, age, and weight status.
2. there were significant positive trends with age for each of the strength tests except the modified pull-up among girls.
3.  the length of time the plank was held decreased as weight status increased for both girls and boys
4.  as weight status increased the number of modified pull-ups decreased for boys and girls
5.  scores on the knee extension increased as weight status increased
6.  grip strength increased as weight status increased

The researchers concluded that "increasing weight status had a negative association with measures of strength that involved lifting the body, but was associated with improved performances on tests that did not involve lifting the body".

Reference: Ervrn, RB et al. Strength and Body Weight in US Children and Adolescents. Published online August 25, 2014 Pediatrics Vol. 134 No. 3 September 1, 2014. pp. e782 -e789
(doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-0794)

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Play Strong: Activities to Promote Muscle Strengthening in Children through Play

This is a collection of 40+ activities that promote muscle strengthening in children. The activities are great for your pediatric occupational and physical therapy sessions for children with varying abilities. This is an excellent resource for pediatric therapists.

Find out more information.

Physical Performance of Children who are Overweight

Pediatric Physical Therapy published research on 70 children (5-9 years old) comparing overweight/obese children to healthy weight children with regards to gait, balance, muscle strength, and physical activity.  The results indicated that when compared to peers of healthy weight  the children who were overweight/obese exhibited the following:

• a significantly increased base of support while walking
• decreased one leg stance test 
• decreased vertical jump height 

Reference: Pathare, Neeti PT, PhD; Haskvitz, Esther M. PT, PhD, ATC; Selleck, Marjane PT, DPT, MS, PCS. Comparison of Measures of Physical Performance Among Young Children Who Are Healthy Weight, Overweight, or Obese. Pediatric Physical Therapy: Fall 2013 - Volume 25 - Issue 3 - p 291-296. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0b013e31829846bd