Does Weight Status Impact Metabolic Health in Adolescents When Controlling for Physical Fitness?

PURPOSE: To determines whether adolescents who are fit with overweight/obesity are similar in their metabolic profile to adolescents who are fit and normal weight. METHODS: Adolescents participated in 3 sessions: (1) resting vitals and anthropometrics; (2) maximal aerobic treadmill test ((Equation is included in full-text article.)) to determine physical fitness; and (3) dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and fasting laboratory draw for analysis of insulin, glucose, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein. RESULTS: Of the 30 fit adolescents who are normal weight and 16 adolescents who are fit and overweight/obese (OW/OB), metabolic syndrome was apparent in 1 adolescent who are normal weight and 4 adolescents who are OW/OB. Metabolic syndrome severity was positively associated with body mass index, waist circumference, total body fat, insulin resistance, and C-reactive protein but inversely associated with peak relative, but not lean (Equation is included in full-text article.). CONCLUSIONS: Despite good physical fitness, adolescents who are OW/OB demonstrated greater metabolic syndrome than adolescents who are normal weight. Future intervention research is necessary to explore the relation between physical fitness and metabolic syndrome.