Effect of 6-week moderate- and low-intensity exercise and individualized nutrition interventions on the quality of life in obese, hypertensive adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to research the effect of 6-week moderate- and low-intensity exercise combined with individualized nutrition interventions on the quality of life of obese, hypertensive adolescents.

METHODS

One hundred and ten obese adolescents with hypertension were prospectively recruited for this study and were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (received routine intervention, n = 55) and the study group (received a 6-week moderate- and low-intensity exercise program combined with individualized nutritional intervention in addition to the control group's treatment, n = 55). Waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured before and 6 weeks after the intervention. The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) were used to assess the adolescents' mental health status, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) was used to evaluate their quality of life.

RESULTS

After the intervention, waist circumference, BMI, SBP, DBP, SCARED scores, and CDI scores decreased in both groups, while PedsQL subscale scores increased (all P < 0.05), with the study group showing lower waist circumference, BMI, SBP, DBP, SCARED scores, and CDI scores, and higher PedsQL scores than the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The 6-week moderate- and low-intensity exercise combined with individualized nutritional intervention was found to effectively improve the quality of life of obese and hypertensive adolescents.