title: The effectiveness of a high-intensity games intervention on improving indices of health in young children.
abstract: This study assessed the effectiveness of a 6-week, high-intensity, games-based intervention on physiological and anthropometric indices of health, in normal weight (n = 26; 32.5 ± 8.9 kg) and obese (n = 29; 49.3 ± 8.9 kg) children (n = 32 boys, 23 girls), aged 8-10 years. Children were randomised into an exercise or control group. The exercise group participated in a twice-weekly, 40 min active games intervention, alongside their usual school physical education classes. The control group did not take part in the intervention. Before and after the intervention, participants completed both a maximal and submaximal graded exercise test. The submaximal exercise test comprised of a 6 min, moderate- and 6 min heavy-intensity bout, interspersed with a 5 min recovery. The exercise group demonstrated improvements in maximal oxygen uptake (51.4 ± 8.5 vs 54.3 ± 9.6 ml · kg(-1) · min(-1)) and peak running speed (11.3 ± 1.6 vs 11.9 ± 1.6 km · h(-1)), and a reduction in the oxygen cost of submaximal exercise between assessments (P < .05). A decrease in waist circumference and increase in muscle mass were observed between assessments for the obese participants randomised to the intervention (both P < .05). This study demonstrates that a short-term, high-intensity games intervention may elicit positive changes in physiological and anthropometric indices of health in normal weight and obese children.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Southampton , Southampton , UK.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lambrick
authors.affiliation: b Respiratory Unit , Starship Hospital , Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Westrupp
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Philosophy II , Julius Maximilians University , Würzburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.affiliation: d School of Sport & Exercise , Massey University , Wellington , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stoner
authors.affiliation: e Department of Sport & Exercise , University of Winchester , Winchester , UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faulkner
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy; D010988:Play and Playthings; D055105:Waist Circumference
keywords: HIIT; exercise; obesity; paediatric; peak