Abstract
Introduction: Physical activity is an important medium for improving bone mass
and physical fitness of children, and as such is often emphasized in intervention
programs with overweight/obesity children. Only few studies have examined the
impact of a specific team sport intervention on the bone mass and physical fitness in overweight children. This study examined the effects of a 6-month football intervention program in bone mass and physical fitness of overweight children.
Methods: Nine boys (8-12 years; body mass index ≥ 85th percentile) participated
in a structured 6-month football program, consisting of four weekly 60-90 min
sessions with mean heart rate > 80%HRmax [football group (FG)]. A control group
(CG) included eight boys of equivalent age from an obesity clinic located in the
same area as the school. Both groups participated in two sessions of 45-90 min
physical education per week at school. Bone mass indicators included whole-boy
and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC).
Physical fitness tests included 5- and 30-m sprints, countermovement jump (CMJ), and Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test level 1 (Yo-Yo IE1). Body composition was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Statistical procedures included unpaired t tests and repeated measures ANOVA models.
Results and discussion: From baseline to after 6 months, FG demonstrated greater increases in in lumbar spine BMD (%Δ= +4.3, p<0.05) and CMJ (%Δ= +28.9; p<0.05) compared to CG. For the other bone and physical fitness variables assessed, although FG has shown a higher increase in mean values across intervention, no significant differences were found between groups (p>0.05).
Conclusions: These findings suggest that a 6-month football intervention program in overweight children was effective on improving lumbar-spine BMD and muscle strength.
and physical fitness of children, and as such is often emphasized in intervention
programs with overweight/obesity children. Only few studies have examined the
impact of a specific team sport intervention on the bone mass and physical fitness in overweight children. This study examined the effects of a 6-month football intervention program in bone mass and physical fitness of overweight children.
Methods: Nine boys (8-12 years; body mass index ≥ 85th percentile) participated
in a structured 6-month football program, consisting of four weekly 60-90 min
sessions with mean heart rate > 80%HRmax [football group (FG)]. A control group
(CG) included eight boys of equivalent age from an obesity clinic located in the
same area as the school. Both groups participated in two sessions of 45-90 min
physical education per week at school. Bone mass indicators included whole-boy
and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC).
Physical fitness tests included 5- and 30-m sprints, countermovement jump (CMJ), and Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test level 1 (Yo-Yo IE1). Body composition was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Statistical procedures included unpaired t tests and repeated measures ANOVA models.
Results and discussion: From baseline to after 6 months, FG demonstrated greater increases in in lumbar spine BMD (%Δ= +4.3, p<0.05) and CMJ (%Δ= +28.9; p<0.05) compared to CG. For the other bone and physical fitness variables assessed, although FG has shown a higher increase in mean values across intervention, no significant differences were found between groups (p>0.05).
Conclusions: These findings suggest that a 6-month football intervention program in overweight children was effective on improving lumbar-spine BMD and muscle strength.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 9 |
| Journal | Spine Research |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| ISSN | 2471-8173 |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
