The role of walking training in treatment of obese children – a systematic review

Objective
The objective of the paper is to evaluate the influence of walking training on the process of treatment of obese children.

Material and methods
PubMed databases have been analyzed using the following keywords: ‘obese adolescents’, ‘walking training’, ‘exercise therapy’ with ‘and’ conjunction. In further selection process, only the walking training – on a treadmill or on a flat ground within a specific period of time – was assumed as an eligibility criterion for the analysis.

Results
Two of 110 articles presenting the influence of walking training on body weight, lipid profile, and blood insulin level have been qualified for the analysis.

Conclusions
The comparative analysis and interpretation of the current literature concerning walking training as the only form of physical exercise in treating child obesity is difficult. There are few publications on this subject. However, the review of results presented in these works indicates that walking training has a positive influence on the process of conservative treatment of obese children.