Abstract
Background: Physical activity is essential in acquiring healthy lifestyle behaviors in the early years of maturational
development and preventing various diseases. Resistance training (RT) is fundamental for improving body composition
and is increasingly recommended for obese adolescents. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed
to synthesize and analyze data on the effects of RT programs in this population, seeking to develop useful recommendations
for health and sports professionals.
Methods: A search was performed using four databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect).
According to specific inclusion criteria, twenty-one studies were selected to evaluate the impact of RT on body mass
index (BMI), body fat, waist circumference, muscle strength, insulin sensitivity, lean mass and cardiorespiratory fitness.
Results: After the RT programs, the adolescents improved their muscle strength (SMD, 1.44; 95% CI: 0.76–2.12),
cardiorespiratory fitness (SMD, 1.09; 95% CI: 0.15–2.04), BMI (SMD, 0.21; 95% CI: 0.07–0.35), waist circumference (SMD,
0.27; 95% CI: 0.06–0.47) and body fat (SMD, 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05–0.34). However, insulin sensitivity (SMD, 0.32; 95% CI: −
0.47 to 1.10) and lean mass (SMD, 0.12; 95% CI: − 0.06 to 0.31) did not reveal any changes. Different RT programs were
used but it seems that 2–3 times/week ∼60 min/session of RT for 12 weeks should be recommended for positive
changes.
Conclusions: RT seems to be effective when the objective is to improve muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness
and can be an efficient strategy to reduce obesity in adolescents by reducing body fat, waist circumference and body
mass index.
Background: Physical activity is essential in acquiring healthy lifestyle behaviors in the early years of maturational
development and preventing various diseases. Resistance training (RT) is fundamental for improving body composition
and is increasingly recommended for obese adolescents. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed
to synthesize and analyze data on the effects of RT programs in this population, seeking to develop useful recommendations
for health and sports professionals.
Methods: A search was performed using four databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect).
According to specific inclusion criteria, twenty-one studies were selected to evaluate the impact of RT on body mass
index (BMI), body fat, waist circumference, muscle strength, insulin sensitivity, lean mass and cardiorespiratory fitness.
Results: After the RT programs, the adolescents improved their muscle strength (SMD, 1.44; 95% CI: 0.76–2.12),
cardiorespiratory fitness (SMD, 1.09; 95% CI: 0.15–2.04), BMI (SMD, 0.21; 95% CI: 0.07–0.35), waist circumference (SMD,
0.27; 95% CI: 0.06–0.47) and body fat (SMD, 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05–0.34). However, insulin sensitivity (SMD, 0.32; 95% CI: −
0.47 to 1.10) and lean mass (SMD, 0.12; 95% CI: − 0.06 to 0.31) did not reveal any changes. Different RT programs were
used but it seems that 2–3 times/week ∼60 min/session of RT for 12 weeks should be recommended for positive
changes.
Conclusions: RT seems to be effective when the objective is to improve muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness
and can be an efficient strategy to reduce obesity in adolescents by reducing body fat, waist circumference and body
mass index.
