Hello, good morning! I worked with obese adolescents in my institution. In my study, we used treadmill protocols, but in your case I would advise the Shuttle-Run.

PACER is a good test for adolescents.

Hi Kim! I agree with Hugo that the 20-m shuttle run (Léger and Boucher 1982, 1988) is a very good option: 1) easy to administer to groups and individuals, 2) validated for children, 3) estimates VO2max with acceptable accuracy, and 4) with international references on many countries (Olds et al. 2006). See attached files for info.

All the best!

Prof. Ferran A. Rodríguez

Attachment 1

Sorry Kim, cannot attach the files. Send me an email and I will send them to you: [email protected]

You could also try a step-test, but I don't know weather it was already used in obese children.

... Or a protocol on cycle ergometer (e.g. Physical working capacity in 170 bpm) ;-)

I agree with Angelika that a step-test would be a good idea. This comparison makes me think about the difference of me running versus me climbing stairs. It would be better to use as many muscles as possible at one time, and the shuttle run does not require as many muscles as a step-test.

A step-test is easier to standardize and can be used as an open-ended test (i.e., until some kind of exhaustion), if needed.

It depends of the purpose of the assessemnt. For estimating aerobic capacity, I am totally agree with a step test, especially to help obese children to gauge their effort during the test. But there is also the FITNESSGRAM protocol, particulalry the 1 mile walk-test. It is well adapted for this population. This protocol provides evidence based health-related fitness standards. Also, in a test-retest context (for example, physical education classes) this could help to motivate children in different ways (fix goals to increase their aerobic capacity, use active transportation, jog a little during the test...).

To get more information about eh FITNESSGRAM protocol:

www.fitnessgram.net

Depends how precise you want to be?! I have used the step test in many studies with some margin of error it is a good estimate of aerobic fitness, but somewhat imprecise. - Quite good for assessing change (within study design) and also for grouping (high vs. low fit participants). Quick, easy and simple!

Hi

according to my knowledge shutlle run is best for your research

Hello,

The 20m multi-stage shuttle runs test (20mSRT) works well with children (Queen's Belfast Protocol, Eurofit, FITNESSGRAM). It helps to provide substantial encouragement as well as having some members of the research team running the test with the children. Step tests are also useful, but we find the 20mSRT is good because you can work with a large cohort at once and there are a lot of studies to compare findings with (as well as published thresholds etc.). We often look at total number of completed shuttles as a continous variable, but you could also convert to estimated VO2peak using the Leger equations.

I remember doing a "Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test (YYIET) with a population of school age children. Beneficial for large group testing.

I suggest The 20 meter shuttle run test

It depends on what you see as your outcome variable. If you plan to estimate VO2max, bear in mind that many equations or conversion tables incorporate body mass, and if the intervention program is successful at reducing body mass, changes in estimated VO2max may result from the role of body mass in calculating the VO2max estimate. For obese children, "functional fitness" may be a more reasonable outcome - so whatever standardised test you use, it may be more appropriate to use the raw performance score (time to completion, distance covered, laps completed). Also consider safety issues with maximal effort tests (such as the 20-m shuttle). Risk screening and ethics screening in many countries make maximal testing either a lot of bother, or not possible (because participants are screened out of maximal performance tests). For that reason, a walk test or submaximal cycle test maybe more practical and safer. From previous work with obese children, they tend to like cycle exercise and cycle testing (because it is less impact on joints, and they tend to be quite good at cycling). A cycle test is also less weigh-dependent (so you would obtain a purer measure of improvement in fitness, rather than reduction in body mass). Sounds like you want something more straightforward, equipment-wise, so this may not be feasible. If you use the 20-m shuttle, consider using the raw performance score (laps) as suggested. If you really want to estimate VO2max, maybe search for a lap-dependent equation, rather than use the Leger equation (which I think uses stages completed, rather than laps).

Hi, what about using ENERGY EXPENDITURE INDEX(EEI) DURING WALKING. I think it will be able to answer the energy demands that are required to perform walking which is a very basic activity to be done by children. Rose et al , conceptualized EEI and its direct correlation with VO2 max, which is considered to be the gold standard.

The procedure is very simple, 1. u measure the resting Heart Rate of the last 2 minutes of 5 min rest period. 2. The child walks a monitored pathway (straight, oval passage) at self selected speed 3. At the end of 5 minutes of walking at self-selected speed u measure the walking Heart Rate.

The net value ie. WHR-RHR/SPEED gives u EEI

I like Dipika reply. We almost have done similar procedure recently. We predict the endurance fitness from HR estimation during walking jogging on a treadmill.

We have completed the 20 metre shuttle run test with over 60000 children and find that in most cases it has sound compliance. We only use the data to describe changes at a population level and are less confident at using it to report individual changes.

The test is also dependent on the methodology as motivation can affect the test results. So how the test is administered is key. An inclusive motivational approach that rewards effort rather than performance is important. We also use the Belfast modified test, this has the same protocol but calls out the number of shuttles competed , 1,2,3 ,4,5 as the children run. There are no levels such as 1.1, 6.4 etc. We have never felt confident at converting raw date into VO2. After all this is a measure of endurance performance NOT aerobic capacity.

Another possibility is a modified 3 min step test known also as YMCA step test. A good reference to start is: Santo AS, Golding LA. Predicting maximum oxygen uptake from a modified 3-minute step test. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2003 Mar;74(1):110-5.