Peak Oxygen Uptake Responses to Training in Obese Adolescents: A Multilevel Allometric Framework to Partition the Influence of Body Size and Maturity Status

Abstract EN

The influence of body size and maturation on the responses in peak oxygen uptake (VO2) to a 12-week aerobic training and nutritional intervention in obese boys (n=30; 10–16 years) was examined using multilevel allometric regressions.

Anthropometry, sexual maturity status, peak VO2, and body composition were measured pre- and postintervention.

Significant decrements for body mass, body mass index z-score, and waist circumference and increments for stature, fat-free mass, and peak oxygen uptake were observed after intervention.

Partitioning body size on peak VO2, the responses of the individuals to training were positive (11.8% to 12.7% for body mass; 7.6% to 8.1% for fat-free mass).

Body mass and fat-free mass were found as significant explanatory variables, with an additional positive effect for chronological.

The allometric coefficients (k′) in the initial models were k′=0.883 and k′=1.058 for body mass and fat-free mass, respectively.

The coefficients decreased when age was considered (k′=0.530 for body mass; k′=0.860 for fat-free mass).

Including maturity indicator in the models was not significant, thus the influence of variability in sexual maturity status in responses to exercise-based intervention in peak VO2 may be mediated by the changes in body dimensions.