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 .
Effects of a 5-month football program on perceived psychological status and body composition of overweight boys.
The effects of a 5-month intervention of football instruction and practice on the perceived psychological status and body composition of overweight boys were examined . Twelve boys ( 8 - 12 years ; body mass index ≥ 85th percentile ) participated in a structured 5-month football program , consisting of four weekly 60 - 90 min sessions with mean heart rate > 80%HRmax [ football group ( FG ) ] . A control group ( CG ) included eight boys of equivalent age from an obesity clinic located in the same area as the school . Both groups participated in two sessions of 45 - 90-min physical education per week at school . Indicators of perceived psychological status included body image , self-esteem , attraction to participation in physical activity , and perceived physical competence measured with st and ardized question naires . Body composition was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . From baseline through 5 months , FG improved ( P < 0.05 ) in all indicators of psychological status ( % Δ = + 11.7 to + 29.2 % ) compared with CG ( % Δ = -32.1 to + 0.5 % ) . Changes in percentage body fat and lean body mass , however , did not differ between FG and CG . The findings suggest that a 5-month football intervention program was effective in improving the psychological status of overweight boys but did not significantly alter body composition
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 .