| Summary |
Today there is particular interest in the rise of childhood obesity not only in the scientific community, but also in lay community. Past research has shown that excess cortisol concentration and/or inadequate cortisol responses are associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors such as visceral obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. This abnormal cortisol pattern is often seen in obese individuals. Chronic exercise training has been shown to improve CVD risk, but the effects on cortisol have not been determined. The primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of exercise training on the salivary cortisol response to an acute bout of exercise. The secondary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic exercise training (16 weeks) on diurnal salivary cortisol secretion in prepubescent children between the ages of 8-11. Children (N=14) were randomly assigned to two groups; 16 weeks of chronic exercise training or 16 weeks without prescribed exercise training. Participants were then categorized based on BMI. Saliva was collected using the passive drool method and the cortisol concentration was measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit. Each participant was found to follow the previously reported normal diurnal rhythm for salivary cortisol. However, before exercise, the obese and lean participants did not exhibit a significant between group difference in cortisol concentration. There was also no significant difference in salivary cortisol concentration between pre and post 16 weeks of chronic exercise training. The acute exercise cortisol response was also not altered by chronic exercise training. In conclusion, salivary cortisol concentrations in children were not significantly altered by the chronic and acute exercise that was used in this study. |
| General note | Presented to the faculty of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. |
| General note | Advisor: Robert C. Hickner |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 2008 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33-36). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
