Authors (including presenting author) :
Szeto YLY(1), Ng SKW(2), Kwok KL(2), Tse DYH(1), Law SWS(1), Guan PHC(1), Wan JKW(1), Ho LST(1), Fung BKY(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Physiotherapy Department, Kwong Wah Hospital; (2)Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Kwong Wah Hospital
Introduction :
Obesity can increase the risk of developing various health problems and diseases. According to a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Paediatric Foundation and the Department of Paediatrics of The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Medicine, the prevalence of overweight and obese children increased from 7% to 24%. In order to manage obesity problem in adolescents, adapting active lifestyle is essential. Therefore, we have implemented a weight management program empowering obese adolescents to establish exercise habit, thus to improve body composition and cardiovascular fitness, enhance muscle strength and flexibility.
Objectives :
To evaluate effectiveness of exercise program on weight reduction and physical fitness improvement for obese adolescents.
Methodology :
Patients were referred from Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine of Kwong Wah Hospital, Department, whom aged 12 or above, were classified obesity class II or above, obesity class I or above with co-morbidity were recruited to the program. Subjects underwent a two-year exercise program consisting of 6 follow-up sessions, which incorporated medical and physiotherapy consultations. Stretching exercise, strengthening exercise and high intensity interval training (HIIT) were taught and reviewed continually. Patients were encouraged to perform those exercises on a regular basis in their daily lives. Assessments were done to monitor their progress, outcome measures included body mass index (BMI), fat mass, muscle mass, waist circumference, power grip strength, sit and reach distance, and aerobic capacity which was determined by Chester step test.
Data was retrieved from April 2022 to November 2024, and was analysed by Wilcoxon Signed Rank test for paired comparison on median at baseline and after completion of program. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for the statistical analyses, with p≤0.05 deemed significant.
Result & Outcome :
Ten patients (Female: 1, Male: 9) with median age of 14 (IQR: 13 to 15), and median BMI 31.45 (IQR: 28.3 to 35.7) were recruited. After completion of the exercise program, median of patients’ fat mass was significantly decreased from 37.0kg (IQR: 27.4 to 46.4) to 29.5kg (IQR: 22.5 to 46.4) (p=0.005). While muscle mass was significantly increased from 50.3kg (IQR: 45.3 to 54.6) to 56.7kg (IQR: 51.0 to 61.6) (p=0.005).
Conclusion
The weight management program is effective in reducing fat mass and increasing muscle mass in obese adolescents. Larger sample size is required to establish its effectiveness in physical fitness improvement.
