Physical activity, sedentary time and bone tissue: effects of an 8-months interdisciplinary program with overweight/obese children

Abstract

Moderate to vigorous physical activity plays a recognized osteogenic effect on bone. Moreover, sedentary time, and fat accumulation are unfavorable to bone health. Our study aimed (1) to examine changes in body composition, bone tissue, physical activity, and sedentary time; and (2) to explore whether changes in physical activity intensities and in sedentary time are associated with changes in bone outcomes after a school-based interdisciplinary intervention program. A total of 53 overweight/obese students (10.6 ± 3.5 year-olds; 26 girls) participated in physical activity classes. Bone area, bone mass, and bone mineral density z-score, body composition (fat mass, fat lean mass), physical activity, sedentary time and potential confounders (vitamin D and maturational status) were assessed at baseline, and 8 months later. General Linear Models were carried out and significance level was set at 5%. Changes in moderate to vigorous physical activity were positively correlated with changes in all bone mass indicators. We observed a significant overall effect of the intervention on bone mineral density z-score changes, however after adjustments for changes in sedentary time and moderate to vigorous physical activity, no effect was observed. Finally, variations in sedentary time and in moderate to vigorous physical activity play an important role in bone mass density in those participants of the interdisciplinary program.

Exercise in school Physical Education increase bone mineral content and density: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Therefore, the inclusion, on Physical Education (PE) classes, of exercises that assure efforts whose duration and intensity are conducive to the increase of bone mass, could be an important strategy for the health promotion 12 . Besides PE classes, the ingestion of calcium and D-vitamin, and hormonal factors [13][14][15][16] appear to be potential approaches to increase peak bone mass for this age group 17,18 . A recent scoping review 19 22 , who reported that the inclusion of simple exercises (e.g.…”

“…Therefore, the inclusion of Physical Education (PE) classes, of exercises that assure efforts whose duration and intensity are conducive to the increase of bone mass, could be an important strategy for the health promotion (García‐Hermoso et al, 2020). Besides PE classes, the ingestion of calcium and D‐vitamin, and hormonal factors (Agostinete et al, 2016; Bass et al, 2007; Karpiński, Popko, Maresz, Badmaev, & Stohs, 2017; Specker & Binkley, 2003) appear to be potential approaches to increase peak bone mass for this age group (Gómez‐Bruton, Matute‐Llorente, González‐Agüero, Casajús, & Vicente‐Rodríguez, 2017; Mello et al, 2018). A recent scoping review by Nguyen (2018) summarised the evidence of studies that implemented different osteogenic exercises in school PE classes, and although no meta‐analysis has been performed, the result indicated that PE classes are based on fun, organised and varied approaches, are opportune strategies for bone health promotion.…”