The effects of a physical activity intervention on adiposity, physical fitness and motor competence: A school-based, non-randomized controlled trial
Autor
Godoy-Cumillaf, Andrés
Fuentes-Merino, Paola
Giakoni-Ramírez, Frano
Duclos-Bastías, Daniel
Bruneau-Chávez, José
Merellano-Navarro, Eugenio
Fecha
2024Resumen
Evidence suggests that early physical activity interventions are a means of preventing
childhood obesity and are more effective when delivered in a school setting and based on the
ecological model. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the effect of a multicomponent
intervention based on the ecological model on adiposity, physical fitness and motor competence
in children aged 4 to 5 years. Methods: This study is a non-randomized controlled trial involving
173 children from Chile. The intervention was based on an ecological model and consisted of a
physical activity program with three simultaneous parts, affecting intra- and interpersonal dimensions.
The adiposity index, body mass index and waist circumference were measured. For physical fitness,
muscle strength in the lower part, speed/agility and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured. Motor
competence was assessed using catching, aiming and dynamic and static balance tests. Results: After
the intervention, there was no reduction in adiposity indices; in the intervention group, body mass
index increased significantly with a high effect size. The intervention group showed significant
differences in physical fitness in the components of muscle strength in the lower part (p = 0.000)
and speed/agility (p = 0.002). For motor competence, the intervention group showed significant
improvements in most components. Conclusions: The multicomponent intervention did not reduce
adiposity indices; however, it caused significant improvements in the physical fitness and motor
competence components, so it seems prudent to continue implementing it, given the benefits that
adequate levels of motor competence and physical fitness bring to children’s health, both in the short
and long term.
Fuente
Children, 11(1), 137Link de Acceso
Click aquí para ver el documentoIdentificador DOI
doi.org/10.3390/children11010137Colecciones
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