Efficacy of Home-Based Callisthenic Resistance Training on Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Overweight Compared to Normal Weight Preadolescents

Background: Childhood overweightness/obesity is likely to further challenge worldwide public health if effective preventative measures, such as physical activity interventions, are not put in place as prescribed by public health organizations, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO). Objectives: This study attempted to determine and compare the efficacy of home-based callisthenic resistance training on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in overweight children compared to normal-weight children. Methods: A quantitative study was undertaken, and 15 previously sedentary overweight/obese children (OOC) and 15 previously sedentary normal-weight children (NWC), aged 9 - 11 years, were assigned to a six-week, 45-minute, non-consecutive callisthenic resistance training program consisting of six exercises. An additional 15 previously sedentary normal-weight children were assigned to a non-exercising control group (NON). Results: In the OOC, the six-week callisthenic resistance training program significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased body mass (from 44.54 ± 10.53 to 43.77 ± 10.38 kg, P = 0.002), BMI (23.27 ± 5.05 to 22.85 ± 5.00 kg.m-2, P = 0.002), percentage body fat (from 33.01 ± 5.15 to 31.94 ± 5.55%, P = 0.042), fat mass (from 15.01 ± 5.45 to 14.30 ± 5.33 kg, P = 0.001), sum of skinfolds (from 46.46 ± 11.65 to 44.38 ± 11.61 mm, P = 0.032), and run/walk time (from 21.70 ± 5.06 to 20.71 ± 4.96 min; P = 0.003). In the NWC, hip circumference was found to be decreased (from 73.26 ± 5.84 to 72.76 ± 5.88 cm, P = 0.031), as was the sum of skinfolds (from 29.38 ± 10.18 to 25.84 ± 8.11mm, P = 0.035). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that home-based callisthenic resistance training can have positive impacts on overall body composition and may prove to be a cost-effective and essential tool in the fight against childhood overweight/obesity whether in normal weight or even overweight/obese children.