PURPOSE: (1) To determine the relations of left ventricular (LV) structure and function to total body composition, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and hemodynamics in obese children; (2) to determine the effects of 4-month of physical training (PT) on LV structure and function and hemodynamics; and (3) to explore determinants of individual variability in response to PT. METHODS: Measurements included LV structure/function with echocardiography, total body composition with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, VAT with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and resting and exercising hemodynamics with a Dinamap monitor and Doppler-echocardiography. Youths were randomly assigned to engage in PT for the first or second 4-month periods of the 8-month intervention period. RESULTS: Correlation and regression at baseline showed that elevated LV mass was associated with excess general and visceral adiposity, and elevated cardiac output. Although the PT had favorable effects on percent body fat and VAT, no significant changes were found in LV or hemodynamic variables. Over the 4-month period of the PT intervention, those who increased the most in VAT tended to increase the most in LV mass. CONCLUSION: General and visceral adiposity were associated with elevated LV mass. However, no evidence was provided that 4 months of PT had a significant effect on LV or hemodynamic variables.

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