RESUMEN
It is uncertain if exercise can influence the occurrence of T2DM in offspring of diabetic parents. Therefore this study was designed to assess the effect of exercise on skinfold thickness of offspring of T2DM parents compared with those of non-diabetic parents. This study involved convenience sampling of 50 offspring of T2DM parents attending University College Hospital, Ibadan and 50 offspring of nondiabetic parents who were undergraduate students of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Participants were randomly assigned into four groups using convenience sampling method: 25 Normal-weight Offspring of Non-Diabetic Parents (NONDP), 25 Normal-weight Offspring of Diabetic Parents (NODP), 25 Overweight Offspring of Non-Diabetic Parents (OONDP) and 25 Overweight Offspring of Diabetic Parents (OODP). Each participant followed a protocol of graded exercise using the "Tummy trimmer" everyday spending 30-45 minutes daily for 24 weeks. 4 sites of skinfold thickness (supra-iliac, Biceps, Triceps and sub-scapula) were measured by skinfold caliper. Weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) were estimated using standard methods at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 18 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic and repeated ANOVA with p-value at n less than 0.05. The results indicate that compared to baseline, there were reductions at the four sites of skinfold thickness measurements (supra-iliac, Biceps, Triceps and sub-scapular). At supra-iliac site, skinfold thickness in NONDPreductions was from 7.16 mm ± 2.02 to 6.60 mm ± 4.40. The reduction trend for supra-iliac, Biceps, triceps and subscapular skinfold sites in NONDP were 0.56 mm, 0.79 mm, 1.66 mm and 0.19 mm respectively. While the reduction trend for supra-iliac, Biceps, triceps and subscapular skinfold sites in OODP were 0.56 mm, 1.10 mm, 2.06 mm and 1.52 mm respectively. At subscapular site, the average skinfold thickness reduction trend was 0.19 mm in control group 1.53 mm in test group. Thus, graded exercise reduced skinfold thickness in all the groups. The clinical importance of this in prevention of DM among offspring of diabetic parents is quite promising