Group sports improve body composition , cardiorespiratory endurance , and h and grip strength of overweight/obese youth .
Flexibility and neuromotor fitness do not seem to change following group sports
Group sports interventions have been developed to improve health-related physical fitness of overweight/obese youth .
However , its benefits are not systematic ally documented .
This study synthesizes the evidence about the effects of group sports on health-related physical fitness of overweight/obese youth .
Freiburg Intervention Trial for Obese Children (FITOC): results of a clinical observation study
BACKGROUND : The Freiburg Intervention Trial for Obese Children ( FITOC ) is an interdisciplinary , outpatient program for obese children consisting of regular physical exercise and comprehensive dietary and behavioral education . Parental involvement is required . The study is design ed as a longitudinal , nonr and omized clinical observation study . An 8-month intensive phase preceded a follow-up phase of 1 y or longer . METHODS : Data were collected from 31 groups comprising 496 children ( 267 girls , 229 boys ) , with an average age of 10.5 y.  Body height and weight , fasting total-cholesterol ( CH ) , low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( LDL-C ) , high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( HDL-C ) and physical performance were measured initially and after 8.5 months . A group of n=35 obese children ( 16 girls , 19 boys ) who did not take part in this intervention program  served as controls . RESULTS : After the intensive intervention phase , body mass index ( BMI , kg/m2 ) as well as BMI deviation scores ( BMI -SDS ) decreased in both sexes ( P<0.001 ) . In the controls , BMI increased ( P<0.001 ) and BMI -SDS remained constant . Whereas CH was only significantly lower ( P<0.01 ) in boys after 8.5 months , LDL-C decreased significantly in both sexes . HDL-C tended to increase in both sexes ( not significant ) . The controls showed no significant changes in CH , LDL-C and HDL-C. The fitness levels ( W/kg body weight ) improved in the intervention group ( P<0.001 ) , but not in the control group . CONCLUSIONS : The results indicate that obese children can be successfully treated in such an intervention program . BMI -SDS and risk factors decreased and physical performance improved . To maintain therapeutical success , we highly recommended that these children enroll in community-based exercise programs in order to help them maintain a more active lifestyle after the follow-up phase
Group sports improve body composition , cardiorespiratory endurance , and h and grip strength of overweight/obese youth .
Flexibility and neuromotor fitness do not seem to change following group sports
Group sports interventions have been developed to improve health-related physical fitness of overweight/obese youth .
However , its benefits are not systematic ally documented .
This study synthesizes the evidence about the effects of group sports on health-related physical fitness of overweight/obese youth .