Abstract

Purpose: Regular exercise can alleviate oxidative stress related to obesity and can induce secretion of myokines that are involved in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis. There are no studies examining changes in these variables as a result of Taekwondo training intervention. We aimed to investigate the effect of Taekwondo training on oxidative stress and myokine levels in overweight and obese adolescents. Methods: We randomly assigned 20 overweight and obese adolescents to control (control group; CG, n = 10) and experimental (experimental group; EG, n = 10) groups. The EG performed Taekwondo training five times a week for 16 weeks. Physical parameters (height, weight, body mass index (BMI)), physical fitness (maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (cardiorespiratory endurance), grip and leg strength (muscular strength), sit-and-reach (flexibility), Sargent jump (power), and stork stand test (balance)) were measured before and after intervention. We measured levels of serum oxidative stress markers (plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) and myokines (serum interleukin-15 (IL-15), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), irisin, and myostatin). Results: The weight and BMI in the EG after intervention were significantly lower and leg strength (muscular strength), sit-and-reach (flexibility), and Sargent jump (power) were significantly improved compared to those of the CG (p < 0.05). There were no significant interaction effects in terms of height, VO2 max, grip strength, or stork stand test (p > 0.05). The SOD and BDNF level after intervention were significantly higher in the EG after the intervention, whereas MDA and irisin levels were significantly lower than those of the CG (p < 0.05). There were no significant interaction effects in terms of serum IL-15 and myostatin levels (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Taekwondo training can reduce obesity and increase physical fitness with respect to muscular strength, flexibility, and power as well as alleviate oxidative stress and modulate myokine secretion in adolescents.

Highlights

  • Childhood and adolescent obesity have emerged as important public health problems worldwide [1,2]

  • We randomly assigned them to the control group (CG) that underwent no treatment for 16 weeks and the experimental group (EG)

  • This study investigated the effects of Taekwondo training in overweight and obese adolescents and demonstrated beneficial effects in terms of oxidative stress alleviation and regulation of myokine secretion

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Summary

Introduction

Childhood and adolescent obesity have emerged as important public health problems worldwide [1,2]. The increase in prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has occurred in Korea as well. According to the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), the childhood and adolescent obesity rate was 5.8% in 1997, increasing to 7.6% and 11.5% in 2007 and. 2018, respectively [3,4]. Obesity affects almost all body systems, including endocrine, gastrointestinal, Int. J. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 2505; doi:10.3390/ijerph17072505 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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