Dube, J. J., Andreacci, J. L., Robertson, R. J., Goss, F. L., & Arslanian, S. (2002). Comparison of substrate utilization during treadmill exercise in children varying in body mass index. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(5), Supplement abstract 782.

How children of varied body mass indexes utilized substrate while exercising at various percentages of VO2max was studied.

Overweight children demonstrated a greater relative utilization of fat at all exercise intensities. Obese children have a preferential shift to fat utilization in exercise.

Implication. Obese children will benefit from exercise because they will preferentially burn fat to provide energy.

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