The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effect of dietary treatment and physical training on body fat distribution, the risk factors of chronic disease, and aerobic work capacity in obese children. The subjects were 9 obese children (6 boys, 3 girls; 11.4 yrs; %fat, 33.6%). The areas of subcutaneous and visceral fat were measured using in CT images at the level of the umbilicus. Early in the morning, blood samples were taken to measure risk factors of chronic disease such as TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and uric acid, and their relationship with the areas of subcutaneous and visceral fat was examined. Supervised physical training at 50% Vo₂max, for 30 min/day using a bicycle ergometer was performed 2 or 4 days /week for 10 weeks. The dietary treatment was varied with daily calorie intake between 1400 and 1900 kcal depending on the degree of obesity. After dietary treatment combined with physical training, the areas of subcutaneous and visceral fat decreased significantly (from 249.5 to 158.9 cm² , from 46.0 to 28.5 cm² : p<0.001, respectively), and such risk factors as TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and uric acid were noticeably redu-ced. Maximum oxygen uptake increased significantly from 28.9 to 32.9ml/kg/min (p<0.05). These data suggest that dietary treatment com-bined with physical training in obese children reduces the risk factors of chronic disease and the distribution of body fat, while improving aerobic work capacity. Moreover, such treatment would be effective for the early treatment of obesity and prevention of chronic disease.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.18/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE