Effects of a multidisciplinary program on autonomic modulation in overweight or obese children and adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: this study evaluated the effects of a multidisciplinary program on autonomic modulation in overweight or obese children and adolescents. Methods: fifteen individuals with 10,93 ± 2,28 years were submitted to autonomic evaluation using heart rate variability before and after a program based on physical exercises for three months, three times a week, 60 minutes per session and psychological and nutritional counseling. Data was analyzed using the paired t-test or Wilcoxon test and the level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: multidisciplinary program was able to promote benefits in autonomic modulation observed thought temporal (SDNN: 39,96 ± 10,33 × 49,44 ± 12,31; p = 0,019; rMSSD: 28,97 ± 11,50 × 37,26 ± 11,17; p = 0,018), spectral (LFnu: 64,49 ± 12,21 × 56,74 ± 11,18; p = 0,014; HFnu: 35,50 ± 12,21 × 43,25 ± 11,18; p = 0,014) and geometrical (SD1: 20,51 ± 8,13 × 26,36 ± 7,90; p = 0,018 SD2: 52,31 ± 13,04 × 64,58 ± 16,33; p = 0,031) indices in overweigh and obese children and adolescents. Also, after the intervention there was a reduction on resting heart rate (88,53 ± 9,24 × 83,09 ± 7,93; p = 0,023) and there were changes in the classification of overweigh 26,67% × 46,66% and obesity 73,33% × 53,33%, although not significant changes in body mass index. Conclusions: exercise program together with nutritional and psychological counseling is able to promote benefits in autonomic modulation in children and adolescents who are overweight or obese.