Changes in Physical Activity, Motor Performance, and Psychosocial Determinants of Active Behavior in Children: A Pilot School-Based Obesity Program

Abstract

The obesity epidemic and the decline of fitness among children highlights the need for suitable interventions designed to promote Physical Activity (PA) and healthy habits. The purpose of our pilot study was to assess the feasibility of a school-based program among overweight and obese children, by examining changes in their body composition, PA, physical fitness, and some psychosocial determinants of active behavior. An additional objective was to investigate the reciprocal relationship over time between PA and body image. Self-reported PA and health-related fitness tests were administered to 18 overweight and obese children (11.3 ± 0.4 years), before and after a 6-month intervention including nutritional education, skill-learning, playful physical activities, and exercise training. Participants were assessed on body composition, perceived physical ability, body image, and pleasant and unpleasant psychobiosocial states towards PA. After treatment, children showed decreased body mass index, body fat percentage, arm and waist circumferences, and skinfold thickness. Actual and perceived physical abilities, body image, and PA also improved over six months. Cross-lagged correlations suggest body image to be an antecedent to being physically active. Results showed that the multi-component school program may have sustainable benefits in reducing adiposity indicators and improving exercise adherence, physical fitness, and psychological well-being.

Physical Activity and Physical Competence in Overweight and Obese Children: An Intervention Study

“…Previous school-based studies have shown inconclusive results reporting small changes or no changes in PA (for reviews, see [ 32 , 51 ]). Our results, however, are consistent with those of previous uncontrolled pilot intervention studies conducted on overweight and obese children of similar age and nationality [ 5 , 36 , 52 ], which revealed significant changes in PA and health-related fitness tests. Our findings are also in line with the results of previous studies showing the effectiveness of school-based interventions in promoting PA and physical fitness among obese children (for a review, see [ 28 ]).…”

“…The correlations of BMI with shuttle run (positive) and standing long jump (negative) tests found in this study and in previous intervention studies [ 5 , 36 ] support the contention that overweight and obesity can have detrimental effects on motor performances [ 5 , 7 , 36 , 55 , 56 ]. Moreover, results of a pilot study with overweight and obese children showed positive associations between motor performance in the shuttle-run test and Harre circuit with unpleasant/dysfunctional states [ 36 ]. Therefore, as previous studies conducted in the context of school PE [ 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 ] suggest, an education environment that focuses on participants’ pleasant experiences is recommended in the promotion of PA.…”

“…Data for this study were derived from a larger project, named “Healthy Lifestyles Intervention for Obese Schoolchildren (HeLIOS)” [ 5 , 36 ]. A total of sixty-four overweight/obese children (36 boys and 28 girls, aged 11.3 ± 0.5 years) participated in the present study.…”

Physical Activity Habits and Well-Being among 6-Year-Old Children: The “Improving Umbrian Kids’ Healthy Lifestyle”, an Uncontrolled Pilot Study Project

“…For these reasons, recent research has focused on the evaluation of multi-component clinical [ 45 ] and school-based actions [ 54 ], highlighting that programs have a greater impact if they involve the family [ 27 ]. Morano and coll.…”

“…Morano and coll. [ 54 ] showed that school programs may have sustainable benefits in reducing adiposity indicators and improving exercise adherence, physical fitness, and psychological well-being. For previously discussed reasons and to counteract unhealthy lifestyle habits in Italian children [ 25 ], particularly low PA level, we developed the school-based project “Improving Umbrian kids’ healthy lifestyle”.…”