Results Physical activity was associated with numerous health benefits .
The dose-response relations observed in observational studies indicate that the more physical activity , the greater the health benefit .
Results from experimental studies indicate that even modest amounts of physical activity can have health benefits in high-risk youngsters ( e.g. , obese ) .
Vigorous intensity activities may provide even greater benefit .
Aerobic-based activities had the greatest health benefit , other than for bone health , in which case high-impact weight bearing activities were required .
Some of the health benefits can be achieved through an average of 30 minutes per day . [
Level 2 , Grade A ] .
Background The purpose was to : 1 ) perform a systematic review of studies examining the relation between physical activity , fitness , and health in school-aged children and youth , and 2 ) make recommendations based on the findings .
A school-based exercise intervention augments bone mineral accrual in early pubertal girls.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of an elementary school-based physical education exercise intervention program on bone mineral accrual in prepubertal and early pubertal girls . STUDY DESIGN A total of 14 schools were r and omly assigned to control ( C ) and intervention ( I ) groups . Girls in the I group completed a 10-minute , 3 times per week circuit of varied jumping activities over 7 months . We measured total body , lumbar spine , proximal femur , femoral neck , and trochanteric bone mineral content and areal bone mineral density and estimated femoral neck volumetric bone mineral density at baseline and final measurement in 87 girls in the I group and 90 girls in the C group . Girls were between 8.7 and 11.7 years at baseline . Tanner stage 1 girls were considered prepubertal ; Tanner stages 2 and 3 girls were considered early pubertal . We used analysis of covariance ( adjusting for baseline bone values , change in size , age , and maturity ) to compare 7-month change in bone mineral content , areal bone mineral density , and volumetric bone mineral density between C and I groups within prepubertal and early pubertal girls . RESULTS There was no difference in 7-month change in bone parameters between prepubertal I and C groups . Early pubertal girls in the I group gained 1.5 % to 3.1 % more bone at the femoral neck and lumbar spine than early pubertal girls in the C group ( P < .05 ) ; gain at other sites did not differ . CONCLUSIONS In girls , early puberty may be a particularly opportune time during growth for simple exercise interventions to have a positive effect on bone health
Results Physical activity was associated with numerous health benefits .
The dose-response relations observed in observational studies indicate that the more physical activity , the greater the health benefit .
Results from experimental studies indicate that even modest amounts of physical activity can have health benefits in high-risk youngsters ( e.g. , obese ) .
Vigorous intensity activities may provide even greater benefit .
Aerobic-based activities had the greatest health benefit , other than for bone health , in which case high-impact weight bearing activities were required .
Some of the health benefits can be achieved through an average of 30 minutes per day . [
Level 2 , Grade A ] .
Background The purpose was to : 1 ) perform a systematic review of studies examining the relation between physical activity , fitness , and health in school-aged children and youth , and 2 ) make recommendations based on the findings .