Play as a Method to Reduce Overweight and Obesity in Children: An RCT
Metadata
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Sánchez López, Antonio Manuel; Menor Rodríguez, María José; Sánchez García, Juan Carlos; Aguilar Cordero, María JoséEditorial
MDPI
Materia
obesity play physical activity body composition
Date
2020-01-03Referencia bibliográfica
Sánchez López, A.M. et. al. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 346. [https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010346]
Abstract
Background: Overweight and obesity are the result of a complex interaction between genetic
and environmental factors, which begins prenatally. Aim: To analyse an intervention based on play
as a means of improving the body composition of children who are overweight or obese. Methods:
The Kids-Play study is a randomized clinical trial (RCT) consisting of 49 children aged 8–12 years on a
nine-month intervention programme based on physical activity, play and nutritional advice. Controls
had another 49 children, who received only nutritional advice. Results: The play-based intervention
achieved a moderate-vigorous level of physical activity in the study group of 81.18 min per day, while
the corresponding level for the control group was only 37.34 min. At the start of the intervention,
the children in the study group had an average body fat content of 41.66%, a level that decreased
to 38.85% by the end of the programme. Among the control group, body fat increased from 38.83%
to 41.4% during the same period. Conclusions: The intervention programme considered, based
on both play and nutritional recommendations, produced a decrease in body fat among children
aged 8–12 years. However, the control group, which received only nutritional recommendations,
experienced an increase in body weight.