title: An after-school exercise program improves fitness, and body composition in elementary school children.
abstract: Reduced cardiovascular fitness (CVF) is a risk factor for obesity and cardiovascular disease. It has previously shown that a school-based fitness curriculum can improve CVF, and other health indicators in middle school aged children. Whether an afterschool program improves CVF and other health markers in elementary-school children is unresolved. The objective of this study was therefore to determine whether an on-site afterschool-based fitness program improves body composition, cardiovascular fitness level, in elementary school children. 80 elementary school children were evaluated in a "fitness-oriented" afterschool program managed by the local YMCA. Children underwent evaluation of cardiovascular fitness by maximal VO2treadmill testing and body composition by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), at baseline (prior to the school-year) and again at end of the school year. Findings revealed that, at baseline, children had a mean age of 8.8 years, BMI of 18.7± 3, with a maximal VO2of 40.03 ± 7.6 ml/kg/min, and percent body fat of 28.7 ± 7%. After a 9-month intervention, children maximal VO2increased to 44.8 ± 7.5 ml/kg/min (p=0.04) and percent body fat decreased to 25.8 ± 6.2% (p=0.033). The study concluded that on-site afterschool programming focusing on fitness improved body composition and cardiovascular fitness, in elementary school children. Combined with prior studies, these data demonstrate that afterschool-based fitness curricula can benefit both obese and non-obese children. It was therefore recommended that, partnerships with schools to promote fitness even outside of school time should be a part of a school approach to improving children's health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Aaron L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Carrel
authors.affiliation: YMCA of Dane County.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Logue
authors.affiliation: YMCA of Dane County.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deininger
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine, Madison.
authors.forename: R Randall
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montague
authors.affiliation: YMCA of Dane County.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baldwin
keywords: children; obesity; poor fitness; schools