Effects of a 12-Week Recreational Soccer Program on Resting Metabolic Rate Among Adolescents with Obesity

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the chronic effects of a 12-week recreational soccer program(RSP)on resting metabolic rate(RMR)in adolescents with obesity.Methods Eighteen adolescents with obesity were assigned to RSP[n=10,age=13.8±1.5 years,body mass index(BMI)=30.7±5 kg/m^(2)]and control(n=8,age=14.9±1.4 years,BMI=32.5±4.1 kg/m^(2))groups.Participants underwent anthropometric,body composition,cardiorespiratory fitness and RMR assessments at baseline and post-intervention.The 12-week RSP consisted of small-sided games with 60-min performed 3 times per week.Results Post-intervention,between-group differences due to RSP emerged for body mass(Δ:−15.1 kg,P=0.043),BMI(Δ:−4.7 kg,P=0.05),waist and hip circumferences(Δ:−14.6 and−16.6 cm,P=0.015 and P=0.017,respectively),fat mass(Δ:−8.7 kg,P=0.049)and VO2max(Δ:5.5 mL/kg/min,P=0.013).No significant differences were detected for the absolute and adjusted RMR for fat mass and fat-free mass at baseline and after 12 weeks for both RSP and control groups,although a marked downward trend of 27.6%for adjusted RMR was observed post-control(1915 vs.1386 kcal/day;Δ:−529 kcal/day).Conclusion A 12-week RSP was effective for improving anthropometric,body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness health markers in adolescents with obesity,but not for RMR.