Effectivenes of School-based Physical Activity of Obesity and Hypertension

Abstract

Obesity and high blood pressure (BP) are well-known cardiovascular disease risk factors. As both risk factors have an impact early in life, and BP is linked to body weight. Both obesity and high BP should be prevented and controlled through early identiÀcation and prevention. The aim of this study was to assess how rope exercise improves BP and body mass index (BMI) in school children. The multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used in a true experimental design. Among 2,581 screened, 239 overweight and pre-hypertensive children were identiÀed using a pre-designed proforma and their demographic variables were collected. A total of 104 and 97 children were assigned to the research and control groups at random. A 6-week rope exercise programme was provided to the study group. Among the screened children, 239 children (9.26%) were overweight and among the overweight children, the prevalence of pre-hypertension was 32 percent. The results showed a signiÀcant reduction in weight and BP (p=0.000) and a positive correlation found between BMI and SBP (p=0.000), though it took longer time to bring the positive changes in dietary habits and DBP. The sex, family type, number of family members, and family history of chronic illness of children were found to have a signiÀcant relationship with BMI and SBP. The study concludes that rope exercise and dietary modiÀcations help to prevent, and also control obesity and hypertension and school health intervention is the need of the hour