Short-Term High-Intensity Rowing Ergometry Training Improves Rowing Performance Equally in Healthy Weight and Obese Adolescents

Purpose: Childhood obesity is a major health concern and physical activity is commonly proposed as an intervention strategy to combat the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in young people. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of high-intensity, supervised, rowing ergometer training on maximal and submaximal rowing performance in healthy weight and centrally obese adolescents (12-13 yr). Methods: Participants were randomized to either 6 wk of supervised rowing ergometry, comprising of 2 sessions per week with each session comprising of 2 x 3-min bouts of high-intensity rowing ergometry (n = 57), or a control group who continued with their habitual activities (n = 45). At baseline and follow-up, rowing performance was assessed via a submaximal test and a 3-min maximal test. Results: Six weeks of rowing ergometer training significantly improved maximal exercise performance; total distance rowed in a 3-min maximal effort improved by 19.7 m (2.7%) (time x group, P = 0.018) and produced a significant reduction in perceived effort in response to a set submaximal load (60W) (time x group, P = 0.040). At baseline total distance rowed during the 3-min maximal test was significantly affected by body mass (main effect of body mass, P = 0.002), whereby a higher body mass was associated with enhanced rowing performance. However, the pattern of change over time was not different between healthy weight and centrally obese adolescents (time x group x waist centile, P = 0.577). Conclusions: A 6-wk high-intensity rowing ergometry training intervention improved maximal rowing performance. This improvement was similar in healthy weight versus overweight and obese adolescents; yet overall overweight and obese adolescents had superior rowing performance compared to their healthy weight counterparts, suggesting that rowing may be an attractive exercise modality for interventions in overweight and obese young people.