title: Effects of 6-month soccer and traditional physical activity programmes on body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammatory, oxidative stress markers and cardiorespiratory fitness in obese boys.
abstract: Physical activity is important in obesity prevention, but the effectiveness of different physical activity modalities remains to be determined among children. The main purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 6-month soccer programme and a traditional physical activity programme on changes in body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammatory and oxidative markers, cardiorespiratory fitness and perceived psychological status in obese boys. Eighty-eight boys (8-12 years; BMI > +2 standard deviations of WHO reference values) participated in one of three groups: soccer, traditional activity and control. Soccer and traditional activity programmes involved 3 sessions per week for 60-90 min at an average intensity of 70-80% of maximal heart rate. Control group participated in activities of normal daily living. All boys participated in school physical education, two sessions per week of 45-90-min. Measurements were taken at baseline and after 6 months, and included body size and composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammatory and oxidative markers, cardiorespiratory fitness and perceived psychological status. Physical activity and dietary intake were assessed before and immediately following the intervention. The three groups had similar characteristics at baseline. After 6 months, both intervention groups had significantly lower relative fatness (% fat), waist circumference and total cholesterol, and higher cardiorespiratory fitness, self-esteem, perceived physical competence and attraction to physical activity compared with control group. In conclusion, physical activity interventions over 6 months positively influenced several indicators of health status among obese boys. The results also suggested that soccer has the potential as an effective tool for the prevention and reduction of childhood obesity and associated consequences.
authors.affiliation: a Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seabra
authors.affiliation: b Pennington Biomedical Research Center , Louisiana State University System , Baton Rouge , LA , USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katzmarzyk
authors.affiliation: c Center of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: a Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seabra
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coelho-E-Silva
authors.affiliation: a Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.affiliation: a Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.affiliation: e Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development , CIDESD, University Institute of Maia, ISMAI , Maia , Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Póvoas
authors.affiliation: f Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.|g Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC) , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: f Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.|g Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC) , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belo
authors.affiliation: h Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: a Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: a Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.affiliation: f Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.|g Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC) , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos-Silva
authors.affiliation: i Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems, Faculty of Medicine , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rêgo
authors.affiliation: j Department of Kinesiology and Health Education , University of Texas at Austin , TX , USA.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Malina
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D012649:Self Concept; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Activity intervention; risk factors; sport; weight status; youth