Authors
1 Ph.D Student of Sport Physiology, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
2 Assistant professor of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
3 Professor of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
4 Associate professor of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
Abstract
Background
Studies have shown that exercises that are anaerobic and produce lactate affect the level of Brain-derived neurotrophic family (BDNF). This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of anaerobic gymnastics exercise on salivary BDNF levels in obese and normal-weight boys.
Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, sixty subjects with age range of 8 to 12 years old who enrolled in the elementary level of gymnastics participated in this study and were randomly divided into four groups [(obese experimental group, n=15), (obese control group, n= 15), (normal weight experimental group, n= 15), and (normal weight control group, n=15)]. Experimental groups performed 45 minutes anaerobic gymnastics exercise including 10-minute warm up, 30-minutes of main exercises, and 5 minutes cool down, 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Body composition characteristics and the levels of salivary BDNF were measured before and after 8 weeks of training. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05 for all analyses.
Results: The mean and standard deviations of the subjects’ age in this study was 9.89±1.36 years. According to the results we found significant changes (p <0.05) following AGE in obese group (BDNF = +33.80%, p=0.002, weight= -8.09%, p=0.001, body fat%= -12.81, p=0.001, body fat weight= -19.38, p=0.001, lean body weight= -3.20, p=0.001), and in normal-weight group just (BDNF= +31.36%, p=0.003). Significant differences were found among obese and normal-weight groups in weight, body fat%, body fat weight, and BDNF (p˂0.05).
Conclusion
Eight weeks anaerobic gymnastic training induces an increase in salivary BDNF levels in obese and normal-weight groups. Moreover, we demonstrated that weight decreased after our training protocol in obese children.
Keywords
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