Effects of a 3-month vigorous physical activity intervention on eating behaviors and body composition in overweight and obese boys and girls

PURPOSE: This study aims to analyze the effects of a 3-month vigorous physical activity (VPA) intervention on eating behavior and body composition in overweight and obese children and adolescents. METHODS: Forty-seven participants (7–16 years) took part in the study: 28 were assigned to the intervention group (IG) (10 boys and 18 girls) and 19 in a control group (CG) (8 boys and 11 girls). Body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), anthropometrics (body mass, height, and body mass index (BMI)), and eating behavior traits (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R21C) were determined before and after the VPA intervention. RESULTS: A decrease in the percentage of body fat and BMI (−2.8% and −1.8%, respectively), and an increase in most lean mass variables were found in the IG (all p ≤ 0.05). In relation to the eating behavior traits, IG subjects showed a 14% reduction in the Emotional Eating score (p = 0.04), while Cognitive Restraint score did not change after the VPA intervention. The baseline factors of the questionnaire predicted changes in body mass and fat mass variables only in the CG. CONCLUSION: A 3-month VPA intervention influenced eating behaviors of overweight or obese young, especially the Emotional Eating factor, in the presence of favorable body composition changes.