Table 1.

Summarises research conducted into the effect of obesity on muscle strength in adolescence (14–17 years old)

Studies	Gender	Samples (years)	Muscle group	Measures	Findings
Blimkie et al. (1990)	M	11 Obese (16.5) 10 Non-obese (16.6) Range 15–18	KE	– IM KE MVC 90°, 120°, 140°, 160° – IK KE MVC 30°/s, 60°/s, 120°/s, 180°/s – Thigh CSA using CT scans – MUA – Bioelectrical impedance	– IM MVC all angles p = ns – IK MVC all speeds p = ns – IM/BM ↓ obese – IM/CSA all angles p = ns – IK/CSA all angles p = ns – MUA ↓ obese
Maffiuletti et al. (2008)	M	10 Obese (15.6) 10 Non-obese (14.9) Range 13–17	KE	– IM KE MVC 40°, 80° – IK KE MVC 180°/s – Bioelectrical impedance	– IM MVC 40° ↑ obese – IM 40°/FFM p = ns – IM MVC 80° p = ns – IM 80°/FFM p = ns – IK MVC ↑ obese – IK/FFM p = ns
Abdelmoula et al. (2012)	M	12 Obese (14.2) 10 Non-obese (14.4) Range 12–15	KE	– IM KE MVC 60° – DEXA	– IM MVC ↑ obese – IM/BM ↓ obese – IM/FFM p > 0.05 – IM/LM thigh ↑ obese – IM/MM thigh ↑ obese

M males, F females, KE knee extensor, IM isometric, IK isokinetic, CSA cross sectional area, MUA motor unit activation, BM body mass, LM lean mass, MM muscle mass, FFM fat free mass