In the absence of weight loss, exercise training does not improve adipokines or oxidative stress in overweight children.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of exercise training on adipokines, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress in overweight children. Nineteen overweight children were randomly assigned to an aerobic exercise training or sedentary control group for 8 weeks. Measurements included peak oxygen uptake (V o(2)max), body weight and composition, adipokines (C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, adiponectin, leptin, and resistin), and oxidative stress (8-isoprostane). There were no differences between groups for change in body weight or composition over the 8 weeks. Exercise training improved V o(2)max (exercise group, 1.64 +/- 0.13 to 1.85 +/- 0.17L/min vs control group, 1.83 +/- 0.12 to 1.60 +/- 0.13 L/min, P < .05) but did not change any of the measured adipokines or the marker of systemic oxidative stress, 8-isoprostane. These data suggest that in the absence of weight loss, exercise training alone does not improve the adipokine profile or levels of oxidative stress in overweight children.