In conclusion , overweight and obese youth can improve physical fitness across a variety of test measures .
When fitness improves , beneficial health effects are observed in some , but not all chronic disease risk factors
A systematic review of literature was conducted to examine the association between changes in health-related fitness ( e.g. aerobic capacity and muscular strength /endurance ) and chronic disease risk factors in overweight and /or obese youth .
Effects of a classroom-based weight-control intervention on cardiovascular disease in elementary-school obese children.
BACKGROUND Childhood obesity has become a growing public health issue in Taiwan . Obese children have risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease . In this prospect i ve study , we investigated the effect of a twelve-week heart health education and physical activity program on body weight and risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease . METHODS Subjects were 120 obese fifth grade rs ( 65 boys and 55 girls , aged 10 - 13 years ( mean 10.6 yrs ) , body mass index ( BMI ) at the 95th percentile or more ) and were r and omly assigned to an intervention group ( n=60 ) or control group ( n=60 ) . The intervention group received a twelve-week heart health education and physical activity program , while the control group did not . In both groups , a series of examinations were done at baseline and post-test , including height , weight , BMI , body fat , blood pressure ( BP ) , physical fitness ( 800-meter running test ) , heart health knowledge , and serum biochemistry . Differences for baseline and post-test data were compared between both groups . RESULTS Mean changes in the intervention group versus control group were significant for weight ( P = 0.024 ) , BMI ( P = 0.047 ) , percentage body fat ( P = 0.008 ) , physical fitness ( 800-meter running test ) ( P = 0.025 ) , heart health knowledge ( P = 0.006 ) , total cholesterol ( P = 0.027 ) , triglycerides ( P = 0.018 ) , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) ( P = 0.009 ) , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) ( P = 0.041 ) , sugar ( P = 0.035 ) , insulin ( P = 0.007 ) , and insulin resistance ( HOMA-IR ) ( P = 0.028 ) . At post-test , weight , BMI , body fat , total cholesterol , triglycerides , LDL-C , sugar , insulin and HOMA-IR had decreased , but HDL-C had increased in the intervention group . CONCLUSIONS A classroom-based weight-control intervention provides educational programs to promote cardiovascular health in children . This intervention is simple , practical , and beneficial for elementary school children
In conclusion , overweight and obese youth can improve physical fitness across a variety of test measures .
When fitness improves , beneficial health effects are observed in some , but not all chronic disease risk factors
A systematic review of literature was conducted to examine the association between changes in health-related fitness ( e.g. aerobic capacity and muscular strength /endurance ) and chronic disease risk factors in overweight and /or obese youth .