Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight Adolescents

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of either a multidisciplinary approach or intensity-controlled interval training on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight adolescents.

Detailed Description
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Several approaches have been used to improve cardiovascular health status and quality of life in obese children and adolescents, without coming to a consensus decision. Recently, a few studies have determined the effects of exercise training and diet on endothelial function in overweight and obese children and adolescents. The main findings are that only a moderate amount of exercise training and diet changes improves or restores endothelial function. It is difficult, however, to asses the separate effects of the training and diet, particularly because none of the studies have used a homogenous exercise training regimen. Unanimously, better, but affordable prevention and treatment strategies to improve wide-scale health outcome are called upon to slow down the current epidemic of overweight. It is now well established that physical activity reduces, but does not currently prevent the epidemic of obesity from either reaching global proportions or taxing public health and economy. Despite the recent advances in understanding the responsible biology of improved cardiovascular health with exercise training, several lines of research questions are still unresolved. For instance, the optimal program, e.g. when to initiate, whom to prescribe exercise to, which exercise-intensity is required, and the actual design of the treatment program, remain by far yet to determine.

Official Title
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Aerobic Interval Training Reduces Cardiovascular Risk Factors More Than a Multitreatment Approach in Overweight Adolescents

Conditions
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Overweight, Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Multitreatment approach
* Behavioral: Aerobic interval training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Overweight and obese adolescents in the Trondheim area, referred to medical treatment at St. Olav's Hospital Exclusion Criteria: Any coexisting medical illnesses

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 13 Years
Maximum Age: 16 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Aerobic interval training<br>Aerobic interval training (AIT) | Behavioral: Aerobic interval training<br>* Walking/running 'uphill' on a treadmill twice a week for 3 months. 10 min warming-up at 70% of Hfmax before performing 4x4 intervals at 90-95% of Hfmax. 3 min active recovery at 70% of Hfmax between each interval. 5 min cool-down period, giving a total of 40 min.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Multitreatment approach<br>multitreatment approach (MTG) | Behavioral: Multitreatment approach<br>* 12 months regimen consisting of group meetings every 2 weeks involving a physician, psychologist, physiotherapist and clinical nutritional physiologist. 21 h treatment during the first 3 months: 3 activity sessions (3 h) and 3 group conversations (4 h). Attendance inclusion criterium was set to minimum of 80%<br>* Other names: multidisciplinary approach;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VO2max change | maximal oxygen uptake change | 3 months and 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cardiovascular risk factors |  | 2 years | 
| endothelial function change | measured as FMD (flow-mediated dilution) using high-resolution vascular ultrasound | 3 months and 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Exercise Training, Cardiovascular diseases, Risk factors