Effect of Home-Based Exercise Training on Anthropometric Indices and Health-Related Quality of life in Children and Adolescents with Overweight/Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Overweight and obesity are major health challenges in children and adolescents that have gradually increased in prevalence in recent years. This study evaluated the effects of home-based regimes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), resistance training (RT), or combined HIIT+RT on anthropometric indices and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. Methods: A randomized, single-blinded clinical trial was conducted in Isfahan, Iran. A total of 120 patients (aged 10-18 years) with overweight or obesity participated. Eligible participants were recruited using a simple sampling method and randomly assigned to one of four groups: three intervention groups (HIIT, RT, and combined HIIT+RT) or one non-exercising control group with dietary advice. The intervention groups received 24 home-based training sessions over 2 months. Anthropometric indices and the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire were assessed both pre- and post-intervention. Results: =0.006) across interventions. No significant changes were observed in waist-to-hip ratio or body mass index (BMI). In addition, an analysis of covariance showed no significant differences in the mean changes in HRQoL among the three intervention and control groups pre- and post-intervention. Conclusion: Home-based exercise was associated with improvements in anthropometric indices other than BMI, whereas HRQoL remained unchanged in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity.