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Evaluation of a multicomponent intervention to improve weight status and fitness in children
Pediatrics International, 08/17/2012
Sandercock GRH et al. – There were some notable benefits of this novel, cost–effective, naturalistic intervention but future studies should examine seasonal variation and motivational factors as potential confounding variables.
Methods- Children from three schools in socially deprived areas took part in weekly coaching sessions over two 10-week periods during the school year.
- Coaching was provided by local community-based sports clubs.
- Body mass index (BMI), jump height, handgrip strength, 20m shuttle run test (20mSRT) performance were assessed pre- and post- each of the two intervention periods, to determine short and long term changes in health-related fitness.
- Age and sex-normalised z-scores were calculated using normative UK reference data for each measure.
- BMI z-score did not change in the short-term, as expected, but importantly was significantly lower at the end of the study.
- Both handgrip and 20mSRT performance scores increased in after the first 10-week period.
- Only improvements in handgrip were maintained whole study period. Jump height actually decreased over the entire study period.
