A Study to Compare the Effectiveness of Aerobic Exercises Versus Resistance Training in overweight and Obese Adolescents

Background and Objective: Childhood obesity is a chronic pediatric disease with possible complication. There is a reduction in natural physical activity levels and with increase in sedentary life style among children. Various forms of exercise are effective and helpful in obesity management.

This study was carried out to study the effectiveness of resistance training in overweight and obese adolescents, to study the effectiveness of aerobic exercise in overweight and obese adolescents and to study the effectiveness of resistance training versus aerobic training in overweight and obese adolescents.

Design: Experimental Design

Methods: A sample of 25 subjects between ages of 10 to 16 years was obtained from outpatient department of Physiotherapy, SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad.

The study duration was one year. The study was briefly explained to parents / guardian of children diagnosed to have overweight / obesity and written consent was obtained. Routine evaluation including demographic data, BMI, Waist Circumference and Waist Hip Ratio was calculated pre and post interventions.

The intervention was done for 45 minutes for 3 days per week for 12 weeks. Adolescents were engaged in two types of structured practice during the intervention. The appropriate warm up and cool down exercise were given before and after the individualized resistance and aerobic exercise program.

Results: Results showed a reduction in outcome measures pre and post values with p= 0.000 in both the groups. On comparison reduction was found more in aerobic group than the resistance group.

Conclusion: Aerobic exercise is more effective than the resistance exercise in adolescent with overweight and obesity.