Vahid Saleh - Ph.D Student of Sport Physiology, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
Roghayyeh Afroundeh - Assistant professor of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
Marefat Siahkohiyan - Professor of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
Asadollah Asadi - Associate professor of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

Background Studies have shown that exercises that are anaerobic and produce lactate affect the level of Brain-derived neurotrophic family (BDNF). This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of anaerobic gymnastics exercise on salivary BDNF levels in obese and normal-weight boys. Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, sixty subjects with age range of ۸ to ۱۲ years old who enrolled in the elementary level of gymnastics participated in this study and were randomly divided into four groups [(obese experimental group, n=۱۵), (obese control group, n= ۱۵), (normal weight experimental group, n= ۱۵), and (normal weight control group, n=۱۵)]. Experimental groups performed ۴۵ minutes anaerobic gymnastics exercise including ۱۰-minute warm up, ۳۰-minutes of main exercises, and ۵ minutes cool down, ۳ times per week for ۸ weeks. Body composition characteristics and the levels of salivary BDNF were measured before and after ۸ weeks of training. Significance was set at p ≤ ۰.۰۵ for all analyses. Results: The mean and standard deviations of the subjects’ age in this study was ۹.۸۹±۱.۳۶ years. According to the results we found significant changes (p <۰.۰۵) following AGE in obese group (BDNF = +۳۳.۸۰%, p=۰.۰۰۲, weight= -۸.۰۹%, p=۰.۰۰۱, body fat%= -۱۲.۸۱, p=۰.۰۰۱, body fat weight= -۱۹.۳۸, p=۰.۰۰۱, lean body weight= -۳.۲۰, p=۰.۰۰۱), and in normal-weight group just (BDNF= +۳۱.۳۶%, p=۰.۰۰۳). Significant differences were found among obese and normal-weight groups in weight, body fat%, body fat weight, and BDNF (p˂۰.۰۵). Conclusion Eight weeks anaerobic gymnastic training induces an increase in salivary BDNF levels in obese and normal-weight groups. Moreover, we demonstrated that weight decreased after our training protocol in obese children.

Children, Growth factors, Obesity, Weight loss