The Effect of an Eight-Week Rope Skipping Exercise Program on Interleukin-10 and C-Reactive Protein in Overweight and Obese Adolescents

ac Background: The different effects of exercise on obesity in obese adolescents have not sufficiently been studied. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of an eight-week rope skipping exercise on interleukin-10 (IL-10) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in obese and overweight adolescents. Patients and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, using purposive convenience sampling 30 overweight and obese teens were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental (height 165.28 cm; weight 85.53 kg and age 13.73 years old) and control (height 164.54 cm; weight 83.02 kg and age 13.93 years old) groups. Then the experimental group performed the eight-week rope skipping exercise program while the control group did not receive any intervention and was only following up. Before and after the exercise, the variables including weight, fat percentage, body mass index (BMI) and the maximum oxygen consumption (Vo2max) in both groups were measured. To assess the amount of serum IL-10, CRP, 48 hours before and after the exercise, fasting blood samples were taken during the two-stage mode. The correlated t-test and the independent t-test were used to compare the intragroup and intergroup relationships, respectively. Results: There was no significant change in the serum levels of IL-10 (P > 0.05); however, the intragroup comparison in the experimental group showed a significant increase in serum levels of IL.10 (P < 0.05). Moreover, the variables of the weight, BMI, fat percentage, V02max and CRP were significantly changed (P < 0.05). Conclusions: A rope skipping protocol increases the anti-inflammatory index, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, and improves the body compounds and immune system of the obese and overweight teens.