Impaired Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Muscle Strength in Children with Normal-Weight Obesity

• Main Authors: Martin Musálek, Cain C. T. Clark, Jakub Kokštejn, Šarka Vokounova, Jan Hnízdil, Filip Mess
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: normal-weight obesity; cardiorespiratory; children; muscle strength; physical fitness
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/24/9198

<b> </b>Despite the health-related implications of normal-weight obesity in children, very little research has explored the fundamental associations between this status and important long-term health parameters. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the physical fitness of children with normal-weight obesity,<i> </i>in comparison<i> </i>to<i> </i>normal-weight non obese<i> </i>and<i> </i>overweight and obese<i> </i>counterparts. A total of 328 middle-school-aged children (9.8 ± 0.5 y) took part in this study (<i>n</i> = 44<i> </i>normal-weight obese; <i>n</i> = 237; normal-weight non obese; <i>n</i> = 47 overweight and obese). Height, weight, and body-fatness were measured. Four physical fitness tests were conducted: (1) Multistage fitness test; (2) shuttle run 4 × 10 m; (3) sit-ups for 60 s; (4) the broad jump. Welch’s analysis of variance (ANOVA), stratified by sex, with post-hoc testing where necessary, was performed. Children with normal-weight obesity had significantly (<i>p </i><<i> </i>0.01) lower cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness than normal-weight non obese<i> </i>peers. In addition, normal-weight obese and overweight and obese boys had comparable deficits in strength and explosiveness of lower limbs, speed coordination, and endurance, compared to normal-weight non obese<i> </i>counterparts. Normal-weight obese children<i> </i>appear to have similar deficits in PF as their overweight and obese peers, compared to normal-weight non obese<i> </i>counterparts, whilst boys had larger deficits than girls.