The Effect of Movement Control Training on Body Mass Index and Cardiorespiratory Fitness ‎in Obese Children

Mechanical factors such as increased weight on the chest wall and abdomen heightened demand for ventilation (respiration rate), respiratory muscle inefficiency, and decreased respiratory adaptation in obese people. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Motor Control Exercise (MCE) on body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness of obese children.This research was semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. A number of 30 obese children aged 8-12 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 19 to 23 in Mashhad, who had not participated in any regular physical activity program in the past two years, were selected as available and randomly assigned to two movement control training and control groups (Each group of 15 people). Cardiorespiratory endurance was measured through the 2-minute standing step test and breathing performance was measured through the number of breaths in one minute and the breath-holding test. The experimental group participated in the movement control training program for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week and each session lasted 45-60 minutes. The control group received no intervention. The statistical method of mixed variance analysis was used to analyze the data at the P≤0.05 level.Weight, BMI and breathing rate in the training group were significantly reduced by 3.31%, 30.40% and 1.88%, respectively, compared to the control group (p=0.014, p=0.030 and p=0.017, respectively). Inspiratory breath holding and exhaling breath holding increased by 1.32% and 2.61% respectively in the training group compared to the control group, but they were not significant (p=0.11 and p=0.27, respectively). Cardiorespiratory endurance in the training group increased significantly by 7.17% compared to the control group (p=0.001). It is concluded that 8 weeks of motor control training leads to a significant improvement in cardiorespiratory endurance and breathing performance, as well as a significant reduction in weight and BMI in obese children aged 8-12 years and it is recommended that these exercises be included in the training program of these people.