Research article - (2006)05, 424 - 430
Effect of Intermittent Sub-Maximal Exercise on Percent Body Fat Using Leg-To-Leg Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Children
Joseph L. Andreacci1,, Curt B. Dixon2, Christina Ledezma1, Fredric L. Goss3
1Department of Exercise Science, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA, USA
2Department of Health Science at Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA, USA
3Center for Exercise and Health-Fitness Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Joseph L. Andreacci
✉ 132 Centennial Hall, Bloomsburg University, 400 East Second Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815, USA
Email: jandreac@bloomu.edu
Received: 05-05-2006 -- Accepted: 21-07-2006
Published (online): 01-09-2006

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of intermittent sub-maximal exercise on percent body fat (%BF) estimated by leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis (LBIA) in children. Fifty-nine children (29 girls; 30 boys) mean age 9.0 ± 1.3 years participated in this study. LBIA measured %BF values were obtained immediately before and within five minutes after completing an intermittent exercise protocol consisting of three 8-minute sub-maximal exercise bouts (2.74 km·hr-1, 0% grade; 4.03 km·hr-1, 0% grade; and 5.47 km·hr-1, 0% grade) each separated by a 5-min seated rest period. The three exercise bouts corresponded to 56%, 61% and 71% of maximal heart rate. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed for fat mass, fat free mass, total body water, and body weight, post-exercise in both groups. Significant reductions (p < 0.001) in %BF were observed post-exercise in the female (23.1 ± 9.9 vs. 21.8 ± 9. 9 %) and male (23.3 ± 10.5 vs. 21.8 ± 10.2 %) children when compared to pre-exercise values. However, for the majority of the subjects (females = 86%; males = 73%) the decrease in %BF post- exercise was less than 2.0 %BF. These data indicate that sub-maximal intermittent exercise, that may be representative of daily free-form activities in children, will most likely have a limited impact on %BF estimates when the assessment is performed immediately post-exercise.

Key words: Bioelectrical impedance analysis, body fat, sub-maximal exercise, children

Key Points
  • LBIA measures of body weight, percent body fat, fat mass, fat free mass and total body water were significantly lower after the intermittent sub-maximal exercise.
  • The reductions in percent body fat for girls (1.4%) and boys (1.5%) compare favorably to previous investigations.
  • Intermittent exercise, that may be representative of daily free-form activities in children, will most likely have a limited impact on LBIA percent body fat estimates








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