OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of a 12-week intervention program based on physical activity practice, alimentary and psychological orientation on the risk factors for the development of metabolic syndrome in obese children and adolescents. METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted with 23 obese children and adolescents, aged six to 16 years (12.0±3.2 years). Total body and trunk fat mass, glycemia, total cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. The children were submitted to physical activity three times a week during 12 weeks. Each session of 60 minutes consisted of recreational sports activities, gymnastics, circuits and track-walking. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical data for those patients who had values above the recommendations for each risk factor and Student's t-test for paired data was used to compare the two moments of the study. RESULTS: In subjects who had altered baseline values in the beginning of the study, the glycemia levels decreased 11.6% (from 105 to 93mg/dL; p=0.046) and the triglycerides decreased 24.9% (from 217 to 163mg/dL; p=0.013) after the intervention. On the other hand, no differences were noted for blood pressure and total cholesterol after the intervention. CCONCLUSIONS: The intervention was effective in improving blood glucose and triglycerides levels in children and adolescents enrolled in the study.
metabolic syndrome X; obesity; risk factors; motor activity; child; adolescent; obesidad
