Effect of Different Physical Activity Training Methods on Overweight Adolescents

In view of the growing trend of obesity around the world, including in our country, and the effect of reduced physical activity in increasing the incidence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents and limitations of families in providing transport for their children to attend exercise classes, as well as time limitations of students in taking part in these classes, accessing appropriate methods for presenting physical activity training seems essential. This non-pharmacological clinical trial was performed during six months from May to November 2007 on 105 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years with obesity, randomly assigned to 3 groups of thirty-five. Nutrition and treatment behavior were the same in all groups, but physical activity training in the first group was taking part in physical activity training classes twice a week, in the second group by providing a training CD, and in the third group via face-to-face training. Before and after the intervention, anthropometric indicators were measured and recorded. Mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of participants in physical activity training classes, and the group undergoing training with CD, after the interventions was significantly lower than before the intervention. Our findings demonstrated that training using CDs can also be as effective in reducing BMI in overweight and obese children and adolescents as face-to-face education and participation in physical training classes. Extending such interventions can be effective at the community level.