Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2007; 28(9): 762-767
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-964968
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Motor Abilities and Aerobic Fitness of Obese Children

U. Korsten-Reck1 , T. Kaspar1 , K. Korsten1 , K. Kromeyer-Hauschild2 , K. Bös3 , A. Berg1 , H.-H. Dickhuth1
  • 1Rehabilitative and Preventive Sports Medicine, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • 2Institute of Human Genetics and Anthropology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
  • 3Institute of Sports and Sports Science, University of Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision July 19, 2006

Publication Date:
11 May 2007 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Obesity is considered to be epidemic worldwide. Stopping further progression interdisciplinary, outpatient intervention therapy programs for obese children have become increasingly important. FITOC (Freiburg Intervention Trial for Obese Children) consists of a combination of organized sports, behavioral therapy and nutritional advice. The effectiveness of the therapy is determined on the basis of anthropometrical and physical performance data. The purpose of this report is to give a differentiated view of the motor abilities of obese children and to describe changes in the course of the therapy program FITOC. Data were collected on n = 49 obese children (BMI > 97th percentile) aged 8 - 12 in a pretest at the beginning and posttest at the end of the intensive phase of the therapy. These data were compared with an age-matched German reference group. Besides the General Sports-Motor Test (Allgemeiner Sportmotorischer Test [AST]), the BMI-SDS values, the body fat mass (FM %) and the aerobic capacity (Watt/kg body weight) were recorded. In the pretest, the running exercise results and the aerobic capacity checked ranged significantly below the values of the reference group. The performance in the coordinative tests of the AST was differentiated. The medicine-ball toss was significantly above average of the reference group. In the posttest, the BMI‐SDS values and the body fat mass (% FM) decreased (p < 0.001) and the aerobic capacity improved (p < 0.001). Performance in all motor abilities tests improved and the difference between the strength of the obese children and the strength of the reference group decreased. This study demonstrates that in obese children weight-bearing activities are below average but not all motor abilities.

Key words

obesity in childhood - outpatient intervention - motor abilities - physical activity

References

  • 1 Bar-Or O. Physical activity and physical training in childhood obesity.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1993;  33 323-329
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Berg A, Halle M, Bauer S, Korsten-Reck U, Keul J. Körperliche Aktivität und Ernährungsverhalten: Strategien zur Verbesserung des Lipidprofils bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. [Physical activity and eating behavior: strategies for improving the serum lipid profile of children and adolescents].  Wien Med Wochenschr. 1994;  144 138-144
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Bös K. AST 6 - 11 Allgemeiner sportmotorischer Test für Kinder von 6 - 11 Jahren.  Haltung und Bewegung. 2000;  20 5-16
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Bös K. Motorische Tests.  Sportpraxis. 2003;  43
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Celi F, Bini V, De Giorgi G, Molinari D, Faraoni F, Di Stefano G, Bacosi M L, Berioli M G, Contessa G, Falorni A. Epidemiology of overweight and obesity among school children and adolescents in three provinces of central Italy, 1993 - 2001: study of potential influencing variables.  Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003;  57 1045-1051
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Cole T J, Green P J. Smoothing reference centile curves: the LMS method and penalized likelihood.  Stat Med. 1992;  11 1305-1319
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Deforche B, Lefevre J, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Hills A P, Duquet W, Bouckaert J. Physical fitness and physical activity in obese and nonobese Flemish youth.  Obes Res. 2003;  11 434-441
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Dietz W H. Health consequences of obesity in youth: childhood predictors of adult disease.  Pediatrics. 1998;  101 518-525
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Dietz W H. Overweight in childhood and adolescence.  N Engl J Med. 2004;  350 855-857
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Drinkard B, McDuffie J, McCann S, Uwaifo G I, Nicholson J, Yanovski J A. Relationships between walk/run performance and cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents who are overweight.  Phys Ther. 2001;  81 1889-1896
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Foger M, Bart G, Rathner G, Jager B, Fischer H, Zollner-Neussl D. Körperliche Aktivität, Ernährungsberatung und psychologische Führung in der Behandlung von übergewichtigen Kindern. Eine kontrollierte Follow-up-Studie über 6 Monate. [Physical activity, nutritional counseling and psychological guidance in treatment of obese children. A controlled follow-up study over six months].  Monatsschr Kinderheilkd. 1993;  141 491-497
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Graf C, Koch B, Kretschmann-Kandel E, Falkowski G, Christ H, Coburger S, Lehmacher W, Bjarnason-Wehrens B, Platen P, Tokarski W, Predel H G, Dordel S. Correlation between BMI, leisure habits and motor abilities in childhood (CHILT-project).  Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004;  28 22-26
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Griffiths M, Payne P R, Stunkard A J, Rivers J P, Cox M. Metabolic rate and physical development in children at risk of obesity.  Lancet. 1990;  336 76-78
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Grund A, Dilba B, Forberger K, Krause H, Siewers M, Rieckert H, Muller M J. Relationships between physical activity, physical fitness, muscle strength and nutritional state in 5- to 11-year-old children.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;  82 425-438
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Hebebrand J, Bös K. Umgebungsfaktoren - Körperliche Aktivität. Wabitsch M et al. Adipositas bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Heidelberg; Springer Verlag 2005
    Google Scholar
  • 16 Hubert H B, Feinleib M, McNamara P M, Castelli W P. Obesity as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease: a 26-year follow-up of participants in the Framingham Heart Study.  Circulation. 1983;  67 968-977
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Johnson M S, Figueroa-Colon R, Herd S L, Fields D A, Sun M, Hunter G R, Goran M I. Aerobic fitness, not energy expenditure, influences subsequent increase in adiposity in black and white children.  Pediatrics. 2000;  106 E50
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Kimm S Y, Obarzanek E. Childhood obesity: a new pandemic of the new millennium.  Pediatrics. 2002;  110 1003-1007
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Klaes L, Rommel A, Cosler D, Zens Y. WIAD-Studie: Bewegungsstatus von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland. Eine Analyse des wissenschaftlichen Instituts der Ärzte Deutschlands e.V. Bonn; DSB 2001
    Google Scholar
  • 20 Klesges R C, Klesges L M, Eck L H, Shelton M L. A longitudinal analysis of accelerated weight gain in preschool children.  Pediatrics. 1995;  95 126-130
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Korsten-Reck U, Kromeyer-Hauschild K, Wolfarth B, Dickhuth H H, Berg A. Freiburg Intervention Trial for Obese Children (FITOC): results of a clinical observation study.  Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2005;  29 356-361
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Korsten-Reck U, Rudloff C, Kayser R, Esser K J, Grupe M, Emunds U, Kromeyer-Hauschild K, Rucker G, Wolfarth B, Berg A. Das Freiburger Interventionsprogramm für die ambulante Therapie von Übergewicht im Kindesalter. [Freiburg intervention program for ambulatory therapy of obesity in childhood (FITOC)].  Versicherungsmedizin. 2002;  54 21-25
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Kromeyer-Hauschild K, Wabitsch M, Kunze D. Perzentile für den Body-Mass-Index für das Kinder- und Jugendalter unter Heranziehung verschiedener deutscher Stichproben.  Monatsschr Kinderheilkd. 2001;  149 807-818
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Largo R H, Prader A. Pubertal development in Swiss boys.  Helv Paediatr Acta. 1983;  38 211-228
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Largo R H, Prader A. Pubertal development in Swiss girls.  Helv Paediatr Acta. 1983;  38 229-243
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 McGill Jr H C, McMahan C A, Herderick E E, Zieske A W, Malcom G T, Tracy R E, Strong J P. Obesity accelerates the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in young men.  Circulation. 2002;  105 2712-2718
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Minck M R, Ruiter L M, Van Mechelen W, Kemper H C, Twisk J W. Physical fitness, body fatness, and physical activity: The Amsterdam Growth and Health Study.  Am J Human Biol. 2000;  12 593-599
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Okely A D, Booth M L, Chey T. Relationships between body composition and fundamental movement skills among children and adolescents.  Res Q Exerc Sport. 2004;  75 238-247
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Owens S, Gutin B, Allison J, Riggs S, Ferguson M, Litaker M, Thompson W. Effect of physical training on total and visceral fat in obese children.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 143-148
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Reybrouck T, Vinckx J, Van den B G, Vanderschueren-Lodeweyckx M. Exercise therapy and hypocaloric diet in the treatment of obese children and adolescents.  Acta Paediatr Scand. 1990;  79 84-89
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Schwimmer J B, Burwinkle T M, Varni J W. Health-related quality of life of severely obese children and adolescents.  JAMA. 2003;  289 1813-1819
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Sinha R, Fisch G, Teague B, Tamborlane W V, Banyas B, Allen K, Savoye M, Rieger V, Taksali S, Barbetta G, Sherwin R S, Caprio S. Prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance among children and adolescents with marked obesity.  N Engl J Med. 2002;  346 802-810
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Slaughter M H, Lohman T G, Boileau R A, Horswill C A, Stillman R J, Van Loan M D, Bemben D A. Skinfold equations for estimation of body fatness in children and youth.  Hum Biol. 1988;  60 709-723
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Sothern M S. Exercise as a modality in the treatment of childhood obesity.  Pediatr Clin North Am. 2001;  48 995-1015
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Strong W B, Malina R M, Blimkie C J, Daniels S R, Dishman R K, Gutin B, Hergenroeder A C, Must A, Nixon P A, Pivarnik J M, Rowland T, Trost S, Trudeau F. Evidence based physical activity for school-age youth.  J Pediatr. 2005;  146 732-737
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Tolfrey K, Campbell I G, Jones A M. Selected predictor variables and the lipid-lipoprotein profile of prepubertal girls and boys.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 1550-1557
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Wabitsch M, Kunze D, Keller E, Kiess W, Kromeyer-Hauschild K. [Obesity in children and adolescents in Germany. Significant and persistent increase of prevalence. Appeal to treatment].  Fortschr Med Orig. 2002;  120 99-106
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 World Health Organisation .WHO technical report. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. WHO report of a WHO consulting. No. 894. Geneva, Switzerland; WHO Library 2000
    Google Scholar

PD Dr. Ulrike Korsten-Reck

Rehabilitative and Preventive Sports Medicine
Medical Center University of Freiburg

Hugstetterstraße 55

79106 Freiburg

Germany

Phone: + 49 76 12 70 74 77

Fax: + 49 76 12 70 74 70

Email: ulrike.korsten-reck@uniklinik-freiburg.de

      >