Three times as much physical education reduced the risk of children being overweight or obese after 5 years

Abstract

Aim We evaluated the effect that increasing physical education lessons from 1.5 to 4.5 hours per week for 5 years had on the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumferences of children aged 5‐11 years at inclusion. Methods From 2008 to 2013, six intervention schools in Svendborg, Denmark, delivered 4.5 hours of physical education lessons per week to 750 children. Meanwhile, four matched control schools gave 549 children the standard 1.5 hours of physical education lessons per week. Measurements were taken at baseline and yearly for 5 years. Of the 1299 children, 81 joined the schools after 2008. Results At baseline, the percentage of overweight children was 12% in the intervention schools and 13% in the control schools, whereas 15% and 19% were abdominal obese, respectively. After 5 years, the respective risks of remaining abdominal obese or overweight were 43% and 51% in the intervention schools and 78% and 84% in the control schools. Mean BMI increased 0.450 kg/m2 more in the control group over the five‐year period. The intervention was not effective in decreasing the average waist circumference. Conclusion Three times as much physical education lessons per week, for 5 years, effectively decreased BMI and the likelihood of remaining overweight or obese.

Physical Education: Practice, Cessation and Resumption in Untrained Saudi College Students

“…We understand that these great improvements occurred because the participants were untrained and had a greater adaptative reserve (Aceña et al, 2007). In this regard, some studies carried out with primary and secondary students ascertained that three or more PE classes per week provide the individuals with additional benefits, which includes improved physical fitness and health, value formation and improved academic performance (Kühr et al, 2020). Unfortunately, no studies have examined this circumstance with college students.…”

“…As for the weekly frequency of practice, recent research has analyzed the PE Curriculum time allocation on Primary and Secondary Education (Kühr, Lima, Grøntved, Wedderkopp, & Klakk, 2020). However, very few studies have addressed this aspect in college students.…”

Child obesity moderates the association between poverty and academic achievement

“…Evidence indicates that the most effective strategy is a combination of diet and physical activity interventions within school settings concomitant with the home environment (Wang et al, 2013). Even though this combined diet‐physical activity program is moderately effective (Wang et al, 2015), childhood overweight and obesity are major health challenges that need to be addressed through early‐life, long‐term intensive prevention programs that eliminate or reduce the societal and health disparities that continuously create a cycle of inequity (Kuhr et al, 2019). It is clear that we need continued research and development of cost‐effective behavioral and systems‐level interventions to curb obesity and promote more successful educational outcomes (Davies et al, 2007).…”

Physical fitness attenuates the genetic predisposition to obesity in children and adolescents

“…Physical fitness components can be improved via regular physical activity practice and exercise training, 27 mainly by moderate to vigorous intensities 28,29 . Also, intervention protocols demonstrate that decreased adiposity can be achieved by improving physical activity practice and aerobic capacity 30‐32 . Based on this knowledge, children and adolescents should accomplish the guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, whereas activities that improve muscular fitness should be engaged in at least three times per week 33 .…”