Study finds exercise improves health and fitness in schoolchildren

The study, led by researchers from UGR's Department of Physical Education and Sports, in collaboration with pediatricians from the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology of the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital in Granada, and external partners nationally and internationally, shows that the physical ability of school children to exercise It was shown that it improved. fitness and health.

This study was published in a prestigious scientific journal JAMA network openfound that children who exercised regularly during a 5-month program reduced cardiometabolic risk, LDL cholesterol, BMI, body fat mass, visceral fat, and improved aerobic capacity. Ta.

Improve health and fitness

One of the most surprising findings was that nearly 80% of children who completed the exercise program achieved a significant reduction in total fat mass. ”

Francisco B. Ortega, Professor, UGR Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Principal Investigator of the Project

“Furthermore, we found that a significant number of schoolchildren at high risk of metabolic syndrome were able to break out of this risk group as a result of following an exercise program. A similar trend was observed for boys who participated in an exercise program. “A change from poor to optimal physical fitness based on aerobic capacity,” said a member of the UGR Physical Education and Sports Department and one of the study's principal investigators. said Jairo H. Migueles.

Treatment of obesity and prevention of metabolic diseases

The physical exercise program carried out in this study was based on group games without the use of sophisticated equipment and included simple activities such as running on an outdoor track and moderate-to-high-intensity strength training. In other words, the program is conducted in conditions similar to those found in school environments and after-school activities, meaning that the program is socially transferable to everyday situations. “This study shows the importance of incorporating physical activity in the treatment of childhood obesity and preventing the development of metabolic problems,” added Cristina Cadenas Sánchez, another researcher who coordinated the study. .

The prevalence of excess weight and obesity in children has increased in recent decades and is a global health concern. Excess weight affects one in three children worldwide, and Spain is one of the countries in Europe with the highest proportion of children with this problem. An obese child not only has a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and her type 2 diabetes, but also faces significant functional limitations that affect her quality of life.