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Sex differences in self-perceived fatigue and handgrip performance and its relation with body composition in obese children

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Sex differences in self-perceived fatigue and handgrip performance and its relation with body composition in obese children

Introduction: Maximal strength is an important factor to perform daily activities, especially in obese persons whose muscles must carry heavier loads, which can induce higher levels of fatigue. Weight excess consists mainly of fat mass but also lean mass which can influence the muscle performance positively in non-weight bearing activities. Studies correlating grip strength with segmental and total body composition (estimated using DXA) in obese children are scarce. This study explores the self-perceived fatigue, body composition and muscle performance in obese adolescents
Methods: 117 obese children (70 girls and 47 boys) were examined for body composition (DXA), muscle performance (maximal grip strength, fatigue resistance and grip work) and self-perceived fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, MFI-20).

Results: Girls showed no difference in absolute muscle performance compared with boys, even correction for lean arm mass. No significant difference was found between the 2 sexes for absolute fat mass, but girls showed significant lower lean mass and higher fat percentage than boys. Grip strength shows good correlations with lean and BMC in as well appendicular segments as total body composition and a negative correlation is found for fat% in both sexes. In boys fatigue parameters show correlation with body composition, not in girls.

Conclusion: Based on our results we can state that self-perceived fatigue and handgrip performance has an influence on segmental and total body composition. Further studies are necessary to evaluate whether self-perceived fatigue is affected by weight loss and/or physical exercise interventions.
Book: European Congress on Obesity (ECO2014)
Pages: 57-57
Number of pages: 1
ISBN:978-3-318-02707-5
Keywords:obesity, adolescents, handgrip performance, body composition, self-perceived fatigue
  • VABB Id: c:vabb:388003
  • ORCID: /0000-0002-6820-9586/work/75885340
  • ORCID: /0000-0002-7085-535X/work/76554139
  • ORCID: /0000-0002-2588-2463/work/77516857