Diferenças e benefícios entre os testes de caminhada de seis minutos e o timed up and go para crianças obesas: revisão integrativa

Abstract

Introduction: Various evidence indicates that excess weight harms the typical development of children and adolescents. Those who are overweight or obese are more likely to maintain these conditions into adulthood, increasing the risk of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer, as well as reducing life expectancy. Objective: To compare the differences and benefits of the six-second walk test (6MWT) and the timed up and go (TUG) test in obese children. Methodology: A literature review was carried out using the PubMed, Scielo, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library databases, from June to October 2023. The keywords “Childhood obesity”, “pediatric obesity”, “walking test”, “timed up and go”, “tug” and “6MWT”, in Portuguese and English. Results: Among the studies analyzed, some demonstrated that TUG can be especially beneficial for detecting changes in functional mobility that are crucial for carrying out activities of daily living. Some studies have highlighted the applicability of the TUG in specific pediatric populations, indicating its usefulness in the assessment of children with specific syndromes or conditions, including obesity. Conclusion: The results of this review highlight the importance of selecting the most appropriate test to evaluate obese children, based on the specific objectives of the evaluation. While the TUG is best used to examine functional mobility, balance, and fall risk, the 6MWT provides a valuable measure of aerobic endurance and submaximal exercise capacity.