Effects of walking exercises on body composition, heart rate variability, and perceptual responses in overweight and obese adolescents

Summary Background To assess the effects of various walking rehabilitation programs on body composition, heart rate variability, aerobic fitness and perceptual responses of overweight and obese young adolescents. Methods A total of 31 young overweight and obese adolescents (12 boys and 19 girls) were randomly assigned to one of 4 groups: a group walking at 70% of maximal aerobic speed (70%MAS G, n  = 7), a group walking at 50% of maximal aerobic speed (50%MAS group, n  = 8), a self-selected walking pace group (SSWP group, n  = 8), and a control group (C, n  = 8). Anthropometric, metabolic, and perceptual parameters were measured before and after a 2-month rehabilitation program. Results Decreases in body mass, BMI, and body fat were seen in MAS, 70%MAS, and SSWP groups ( P P P P 2max , and the calculated maximal fat oxidation (all at P P P P P P P P P P P Conclusions Rehabilitation programs based on 50% MAS and 70%MAS were more effective strategies to make positive changes on body composition, heart rate variability, aerobic fitness and perceptual responses than the self-selected walking pace, and could be used to ensure an effective intensity of effort in the rehabilitation of overweight and obese adolescents.