Effect of Physical Exercise on the Cardiorespiratory Response in Overweight Adolescents

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of an aerobic physical exercise program on the metabolic and cardiorespiratory response in overweight adolescents.
Material and Method: This is a randomized study evaluating overweight adolescents divided into intervention and control groups before and after an aerobic exercise program. Pre- and post-intervention aerobic fitness was evaluated by a submaximal incremental test on a cycle ergometer. The training program lasted 12 weeks, when the intervention group exercised three times per week on a cycle ergometer at individual training intensities corresponding to lactate threshold (LT) and onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). The individual workload was increased by 10% at 2-week intervals.
Results: After intervention, an increase in workload levels corresponding to LT (33.3%) and OBLA (14.2%) was observed in the intervention group. In addition, the intervention group reached LT training intensity at a heart rate higher than that observed before intervention and that of controls (p<0.05). 
Discussion: The program resulted in positive changes in aerobic fitness and heart rate, improving exercise tolerance.