Posted on 06/11/2005 2:25:38 PM PDT by pickemuphere
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Obese children may have a hard time exercising because of the effort needed to move their larger bodies -- not because their hearts aren't up to the challenge, according to a new study.
The findings, published in the journal Pediatrics, suggest that significantly overweight children should stick with low-intensity activities -- such as walking at an easy pace -- so that they don't fade quickly or ultimately give up on exercise.
The study included 129 obese and 34 normal-weight teenagers who underwent fitness tests on a stationary bike.
During higher-intensity cycling tests, both groups of teenagers showed similar oxygen use relative to their weight -- a measure of aerobic fitness. However, the obese teens breathed harder on the easiest cycling test, where there was no "uphill" challenge. They also covered less distance when asked to walk or run on a flat surface for 12 minutes.
All of this suggests that obese kids' lower capacity for exercise stems from the demands of simply moving a larger body, according to the study authors.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
I was going to put it under NSS.
I was what you would call "morbidly obese" when I was a child and through my teens. From age 18 to 19, I excercised like a gym freak and I changed my diet. Was it hard? YES! That's why people don't like to do it. Was it worth it? Absolutely! I lost nearly 100lbs and I've kept it off for 13 years. Anything worth having is worth working hard for.
Very true, andt that's a message a lot of kids aren't getting today.
When I went in the Army, I noticed that the skinny kids put on weight and the fat kids lost weight. We all had the same food, same schedule and same exercise program.
Message to supposedly intelligent Drs and Rooters Pressies (nah, scratch intelligent from the statement):
That's why it called a Physical Exercise WORK-OUT! It's supposed to be hard! It's WORK!
Sheesh!
My 12 year old is almost 250. She has a genetic disorder...there is research being done to see if it should be treated with a bypass.
My ex-husband was in the Marines and the heavy guys get different food in the "chow hall" during Boot Camp. Actually, my ex-bil was one of those guys when he was in and had to sit at the fat boys' table.
I'm so glad money was spent on a study to find the obvious. You start out at your fitness level and build up as you get more fit. Where's that Master of the Obvious pic?
They need to do push-aways!
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