Effects of a Structured Exercise Program on Insulin Resistance, Inflammatory Markers and Physical Fitness in Obese Korean Children

Thirty-eight obese Korean children (21 boys, 17 girls), whose ages were between 9 and 15, were divided into either the intervention group (19 obese children: BMI>95P) or the age- and sex-matched obese control group. The intervention group performed an intensive exercise program under the supervision of educated instructors for 12 weeks (90 minutes/day, two days/week) and received lifestyle modification counseling using food diaries and phone calls. The control group participated in conventional counseling at an out-patient clinic. The intervention group appeared to have more improvement of body weight, body composition, serum lipid profiles and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels (P < 0.05) but without changes in serum adiponectin level. HOMA-IR decreased from 2.3 to 1.3 in the intervention group. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) and other physical fitness parameters were significantly improved after the intervention program (P < 0.05).