Biophysical and anthropometric indices of children enrolled in acustomized sports club in a school setting

Abstract

Achieving lasting impact on health outcomes requires a focus not just on patient care, but on community wide approaches (such as school) aimed at improving population health. Interventions that address the conditions in the places where we live, learn, work, and play have the greatest potential impact on our health and beginning early in school settings can go a long way.The study aimed to assess the biophysical and anthropometric indices of children enrolled in a customized sports club in a school setting along with assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of establishing a customized “Sports Club” in a school setting. Uncontrolled quasi experimental design was employed. Students of 5 – 8 standard who consented to participate were enrolledin a customized “Active Sports Club” for 90days. Pre-tested questionnaire, anthropometric and biophysical measurements were conducted before and after the intervention. The customized sports club schedule included 15 minutes of Pranayam daily; fixed set of aerobic exercise and sports conducted alternately.Overall the enrollment of boys (64%) was double than girls (36%) in the sports club and girls of 12-14 years had higher values of total body fat (TBF%) as per the cut-offs. Blood pressure values were in the “at risk” range. The sports club was well accepted by students, teachers and parents. Post intervention proportion of children having normal nutritional status increased; undernourished decreased while overweight remained stagnant. TBF percent values did not shift in “at risk” category and the blood pressure values reduced dramatically among the selected children.The customized sports clubcan be extrapolated the school facilities and could be managed with existing staff as well as time and a positive impact on the anthropometric and biophysical parameters of the participants was recorded.