The objectives of this study were to explore the effects of 10 weeks of exercise training at the intensity of maximal fat oxidation rate (FATmax) on body composition, cardiovascular fitness, and functional capacity in 8- to 10-year-old obese boys. This is a school-based interventional study. Twenty-six obese boys and 20 lean boys were randomly allocated into the exercise and control groups. Measurements of body composition, FATmax through gas analyses, predicted maximal oxygen uptake, and functional capacity (run, jump, abdominal muscle function, and body flexibility) were conducted at baseline and at the end of experiments. Two exercise groups participated in 10 weeks of supervised exercise training at individualized FATmax intensities, for 1 h per day and 5 days per week. FATmax training decreased body mass (-1.0 kg, p < 0.05), body mass index (-1.2 kg/m2, p < 0.01), fat mass (-1.2 kg, p < 0.01), and abdominal fat (-0.13 kg, p < 0.01) of the trained obese boys. Their cardiovascular fitness (p < 0.05) and body flexibility (p < 0.05) were also improved after training. The lean boys showed improvements in cardiovascular fitness after training (p < 0.05). FATmax training increased the FATmax in obese boys from 0.35 +/- 0.12 g/min to 0.38 +/- 0.13 g/min, but this change was not statistically significant. In addition, there was no change in daily energy intake for all participants before and after the experimental period. Results of this study suggest that FATmax is an effective exercise training intensity for the treatment of childhood obesity.

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