You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Short report
Comparison of fat oxidation during exercise in lean and obese pubertal boys: clinical implications
  1. G Zunquin1,2,
  2. D Theunynck1,3,
  3. B Sesboüé4,
  4. P Arhan1,
  5. D Bouglé1,5
  1. 1
    Laboratoire REcherche Littorale en Activités Corporelles et Sportives, Dunkerque, France
  2. 2
    Laboratoire de Physiologie Digestive et Nutritionnelle, CHU Caen, France
  3. 3
    Service d’anesthésie, Centre Hospitalier Dunkerque, France
  4. 4
    Service des Explorations Fonctionnelles A, CHU Caen, France
  5. 5
    Service de Pédiatrie, CH de Bayeux, France
  1. Correspondence to Dr G Zunquin, Laboratoire REcherche Littorale en Activités Corporelles et Sportives, Dunkerque, Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale, F 59140, Dunkerque, France; gautier.zunquin{at}hotmail.fr

Abstract

Objective: To examine fat oxidation rates during exercise in lean and obese pubescent children.

Design: A graded leg cycle ergometry test was performed by two groups of pubescent boys (13 lean: mean (SD) age 12.0 (0.5) years, body mass index (BMI) 18.56 (1.12) kg/m2; 17 obese: mean (SD) age 12.1 (0.1) years, BMI 26.68 (3.37) kg/m2; p<0.001). The first step of the test was fixed at 30 W and power was gradually increased by 20 W every 3.5 min. The mean ventilatory gas measurement was obtained during the last 30 s of each step for calculation of fat oxidation rate vs exercise intensity.

Results: At low intensity (0–30% of peak oxygen consumption) when fat-free mass is considered, the fat oxidation rate was identical for the two groups. At higher intensities (40%, 50% and 60% of peak oxygen consumption) the fat oxidation rate was significantly higher in lean boys than in obese boys.

Conclusion: These results confirm that obese pubertal boys have fat-free mass decreased capacities to use fat during moderate exercise. The findings suggest that obese boys need to practise physical activity at a lower intensity than healthy boys to enhance lipolysis and diminish adipose tissue and the consequences of obesity.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2007.044529

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    View Full Text

    Footnotes

    • Competing interests None.

    • Patient consent Parental consent obtained.