André Seabra1, João Brito2, Pedro Figueiredo3, Liliana Beirão4, Ana Seabra5, Maria José Carvalho4, Sandra Abreu5, Susana Vale6, Augusto Pedretti7, Henrique Nascimento8, Luís Belo8, Carla Rêgo9. 1. Portugal Football School, Portugal Football Federation, Portugal; Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: andre.seabra@fpf.pt. 2. Portugal Football School, Portugal Football Federation, Portugal. 3. Portugal Football School, Portugal Football Federation, Portugal; Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, University Institute of Maia, ISMAI, Portugal. 4. Center of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Portugal. 5. Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Portugal. 6. Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Portugal; School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal; Research and Innovation Centre in Education, School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal. 7. Research Group Projeto Esporte Brasil (PROESP-Br), School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 8. UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. 9. Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal.
Abstract
We examined the effects of a 6-month school-based soccer programme on cardiovascular (CV) and metabolic risk factors in overweight children. Methods: 40 boys [8-12 years; body mass index (BMI) >2 standard deviations of WHO reference values] participated in complementary school-based physical education classes (two sessions per week, 45-90 min each). The participants were divided into a soccer group (SG; n = 20) and a control group (CG; n = 20). The SG intervention involved 3 extra-curricular school-based soccer sessions per week, 60-90 min each. The intervention lasted for 6-months. All measurements were taken at baseline and after 6-months. From baseline to 6-months, the SG significantly improved (p < .05) BMI z-score, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, percentage of fat mass, percentage of fat-free mass, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but no such improvements were observed for the CG. After the intervention, the prevalence of soccer participants with normal waist-to-height ratio (30 vs. 5%; p = .037), systolic blood pressure (90 vs. 55%; p = .039), total cholesterol (80 vs. 65%; p = .035) and LDL-C (90 vs. 75%; p = .012) were significantly higher than at baseline. The findings suggest that a 6-month school-based soccer intervention program represents an effective strategy to reduce CV and metabolic risk factors in overweight children prepared to take part in a soccer program.
We examined the effects of a 6-month school-based soccer programme on cardiovascular (CV) and metabolic risk factors in overweight children. Methods: 40 boys [8-12 years; body mass index (BMI) >2 standard deviations of WHO reference values] participated in complementary school-based physical education classes (two sessions per week, 45-90 min each). The participants were divided into a soccer group (SG; n = 20) and a control group (CG; n = 20). The SG intervention involved 3 extra-curricular school-based soccer sessions per week, 60-90 min each. The intervention lasted for 6-months. All measurements were taken at baseline and after 6-months. From baseline to 6-months, the SG significantly improved (p < .05) BMI z-score, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, percentage of fat mass, percentage of fat-free mass, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but no such improvements were observed for the CG. After the intervention, the prevalence of soccer participants with normal waist-to-height ratio (30 vs. 5%; p = .037), systolic blood pressure (90 vs. 55%; p = .039), total cholesterol (80 vs. 65%; p = .035) and LDL-C (90 vs. 75%; p = .012) were significantly higher than at baseline. The findings suggest that a 6-month school-based soccer intervention program represents an effective strategy to reduce CV and metabolic risk factors in overweight children prepared to take part in a soccer program.
Authors: Stefan Sebastian Busnatu; Liviu Ionut Serbanoiu; Andreea Elena Lacraru; Catalina Liliana Andrei; Cosmina Elena Jercalau; Marilena Stoian; Anca Stoian Journal: Healthcare (Basel) Date: 2022-01-01