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 .
Effect of physical training on total and visceral fat in obese children.
PURPOSE Children with high levels of total body fat mass ( TFM ) and visceral adipose tissue ( VAT ) have elevated levels of certain risk factors for coronary artery disease and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus . We tested the hypothesis that controlled physical training , without dietary intervention , would have a favorable impact on VAT and percent body fat ( % BF ) in obese children . METHODS A volunteer sample of 74 obese children , 7 - 11 yr of age , accepted r and om assignment to physical training  or  control groups .  Before and after 4 months of intervention , measurements were obtained for VAT , TFM , % BF , daily physical activity , and cardiovascular fitness . The intervention involved 4 months of controlled physical training 5 d x wk(-1 ) , 40 min per session , at a mean heart rate ( HR ) of 157 beats x min(-1 ) . The estimated energy expenditure ( EE ) per training session was 925+/-201 kJ. RESULTS Compared with the control group , the physical training group declined significantly in % BF ( delta = -2.2 % ) ( P < 0.01 ) , TFM ( delta = -3.1 % ) ( P < 0.01 ) , and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue ( delta = - 16.1 % ) ( P < 0.05 ) , and increased significantly in fat-free mass ( delta = + 6.1 % ) ( P < 0.05 ) and moderate-to-very hard physical activity ( delta = + 14.1 % ) ( P < 0.05 ) . The increase in VAT was significantly less in the physical training group ( delta = + 0.5 % ) as compared with that in the control group ( delta = + 8.1 % ) ( P < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS This study showed that during physical training  obese children : 1 ) were capable of participating in a substantial amount of high intensity physical training over a 4-month period : 2 ) accumulated significantly less VAT as compared with nonexercising controls ; and 3 ) experienced other beneficial changes in total and regional body composition
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 .