Play as a Method to Reduce Overweight and Obesity in Children: An RCT.

Antonio Manuel Sánchez-López, María José Menor-Rodríguez, Juan Carlos Sánchez-García, María José Aguilar-Cordero

Journal: International journal of environmental research and public health 2020;17(1):0

PMID: 31947884

Plain Language Summary

Obesity in children is increasing and is associated with an increased risk of ill health in adulthood. Both changes in dietary habits and a more sedentary lifestyle in children play an important role. The aim of this randomised study was to evaluate an intervention based on play on the body composition of overweight or obese children aged 8-12 years. The intervention consisted of physical activity based on play, with four 90 min sessions per week for nine months. Both the intervention and the control group received twice-monthly theoretical and practical nutritional advice, given to the children and their families. BMI, weight and body fat decreased in the intervention group and increased in the control group.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Overweight and obesity are the result of a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors, which begins prenatally.

AIM

To analyse an intervention based on play as a means of improving the body composition of children who are overweight or obese.

METHODS

The Kids-Play study is a randomized clinical trial (RCT) consisting of 49 children aged 8-12 years on a nine-month intervention programme based on physical activity, play and nutritional advice. Controls had another 49 children, who received only nutritional advice.

RESULTS

The play-based intervention achieved a moderate-vigorous level of physical activity in the study group of 81.18 min per day, while the corresponding level for the control group was only 37.34 min. At the start of the intervention, the children in the study group had an average body fat content of 41.66%, a level that decreased to 38.85% by the end of the programme. Among the control group, body fat increased from 38.83% to 41.4% during the same period.

CONCLUSIONS

The intervention programme considered, based on both play and nutritional recommendations, produced a decrease in body fat among children aged 8-12 years. However, the control group, which received only nutritional recommendations, experienced an increase in body weight.

Address: Department of Human Motricity and Sports Performance, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain.; Research group CTS 367, Andalusia, Spain.; Nursing Department, Ourense University Hospital Complex, 32005 Ourense, Spain.; Nursing Department, University of Granada, 18002 Granada, Spain.

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17010346