Affiliation:
1. Universidad del Valle (Santiago de Cali
2. Fundación Universitaria Navarra, UNINAVARRA SNIES 9907
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
To determine the effects of recreational physical activity mediated by technology on the body composition of six- to nine-year-old children. Childhood obesity is a public health problem associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and which was exacerbated during the COVID-19 lockdowns, given the restrictions on going to school and participating in group games, among others.
Methods
A quasi-experimental intervention study included 27 schoolchildren (12 boys and 15 girls) with an average age of 6 from an educational establishment during who received three 60-minute online sessions of recreational physical activity per week for 20 weeks.
Results
Medical tests were carried out prior to the intervention, which found that 13.3% of girls were overweight and 40% obese, while 6.7% of boys were overweight and 41.6% obese. After the interventions, there was an average weight reduction of 1.7 kg (p = 0.16), while there were also reductions in the proportion of the participants suffering from overweight and obesity, body fat percentage (0.9 percentage points; p = 0.4) and abdominal circumference (1.01 cm; p = 0.63).
Conclusion
The interventions mediated by technology had a positive impact on anthropometric measurements, promoting healthy practices and physical exercise during lockdown.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC