SIX-MINUTE WALK TEST: PERFORMANCE OF OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN

ABSTRACT Introduction: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) has been used to evaluate exercise functional capacity in children. Objective: To compare the performance in six-minute walk test in schoolchildren aged 8 to 10 years, according to nutritional classification based on two different criteria. Methods: The sample of 226 children aged 8 to 10 years was divided into three groups (eutrophic, overweight, and obese), according to the criteria of nutritional classification proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and assessed by the six-minute walk test. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the sample was 42.48% according to the WHO criteria and 38.94% according to the IOTF criteria. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups eutrophic, overweight, and obese, when the results of the 6MWT were compared, both in the distance covered and in the percentage predicted for children, according to the reference values, and according to the two criteria of nutritional classification. The final heart rate of the test was statistically higher in the overweight or obese groups, both by the WHO criteria (p=0.0015) and by the IOTF criteria (p=0.0160) . Conclusions: In the studied sample, there was no difference in the performance of the 6MWT among eutrophic, overweight, and obese children. However, the final heart rate test was significantly higher among overweight children. The results emphasize that prevention, monitoring and treatment measures are necessary, promoting healthy habits.