Effects of a recreational physical activity and healthy habits orientation program, using an illustrated diary, on the cardiovascular risk profile of overweight and obese schoolchildren: a pilot study in a public school in Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil

Abstract

IntroductionEducative strategies need to be adopted to encourage the consumption of healthy foods and to promote physical activity in childhood and adolescence. The effects of recreational physical activity and a health-habit orientation program using an illustrated diary on the cardiovascular risk profile of overweight and obese children was investigated.MethodsThe weight and height of 314 schoolchildren aged between 9 and 11 years old, in a public school in Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil, were recorded. According to the body mass index (BMI) classification proposed by the World Health Organization, 84 were overweight or obese for their age and sex. Of these children, 34 (40%) participated in the study. Students were divided into two groups matched for sex, age, BMI, percent body fat (%BF): the intervention group (IG, n = 17) and the control group (CG, n = 17). The IG underwent a program of 10 weeks of exercise with recreational activities and health-habit orientation using an illustrated diary of habits, while no such interventions were used with the CG during the study period. Before and after the intervention, the children’s weight, height, BMI, %BF, waist circumference (WC), maximum oxygen intake (VO2max), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, glucose, eating habits, and physical activity level (PAL) were assessed. In analyzing the data, we used descriptive statistics and paired and unpaired t-tests, using a significance level of 0.05. For assessment of dietary habits, a questionnaire, contingency tables, and the chi-squared test were used, with <0.05 set as the significance level.ResultsAfter 10 weeks of intervention, the IG showed a reduction in BMI (pre: 22.2 ± 2.1 kg/m2 versus [vs] post: 21.6 ± 2.1 kg/m2, P < 0.01); WC (pre: 70.1 ± 6.1 cm vs post: 69.1 ± 5.8 cm, P < 0.01); %BF (pre: 29.2% ± 4.6% vs post: 28.0% ± 4.8%, P < 0.01); systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01); VO2max (P = 0.014); TC (P < 0.01); LDL (P < 0.01); triglycerides (P < 0.01); and intake of candy (P < 0.01) and soda drinks (P < 0.01), while an increase in the consumption of fruit (P < 0.01) and PAL (P < 0.01) were observed. The CG did not show any change in the health parameters assessed.ConclusionThe program was effective in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the use of an illustrative diary may have been the key to this result, since students were motivated to change their poor eating habits and to increase their physical activity level.

Efeitos metabólicos do exercício físico na obesidade infantil: uma visão atual

“…Atividades recreativas são também eficientes para promover a atenuação dos fatores de risco da obesidade infantil. Militão et al 37 acompanharam 34 escolares obesos entre 9 e 11 anos, durante o período de intervalo entre aulas. O estudo demonstrou que um programa de 10 semanas de exercício recreativos aliado a um programa de orientação de hábitos de vida saudáveis foi capaz de aumentar os valores de o VO2 max e reduzir os valores de LDL, triglicérides, colesterol total e pressão arterial.…”

“…Recreational activities are also effective to promote the attenuation of risk factors of childhood obesity. Militão et al 37 followed 34 obese schoolchildren between 9 and 11 years during the interval between classes. The study demonstrated that a 10-week program of recreational exercise combined with a program promoting healthy lifestyle habits was able to increase the values of VO 2max , reduce LDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol as well as blood pressure levels.…”

Childhood Obesity: Position Statement of Polish Society of Pediatrics, Polish Society for Pediatric Obesity, Polish Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, the College of Family Physicians in Poland and Polish Association for Study on Obesity

“…Metabolic benefits include lowering blood pressure, reduction of leptin, glycemia, and insulin resistance, improved lipid profile with lowering of TC, and increased HDL-C [151,152]. The physical activity reduces the levels of these inflammatory cytokines leading in addition to increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 10 and adiponectin, even without modifying diet or lifestyle changes [153][154][155].…”

Physiotherapy and related management for childhood obesity: A systematic scoping review

“…1 Sedentary behaviour "Switch Off-Get Active", health education intervention aimed to increase physical activity at the expense of screen time [ 180,182,[187][188][189][190]192,195,207,211,216,217,219,221,225,227,[231][232][233]237,241,243,245,247,248,[252][253][254][255][258][259][260][261][262]266,270,278,282,283,289,291,296,299,301,302]. Studies that were applicable to multiple themes were replicated within appropriate categories and account for the overlap in the total number of clinical trials.…”