Abstract
Abstract Aim: To ascertain the effects of an after-school intervention on physical activity levels and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents from Campinas, Brazil. Methods: This was an intervention study with 71 adolescents that was carried out in two schools, randomly assigned to a control group (CG:n=45) or an intervention group (IG:n=26). We performed evaluations of body composition, sexual maturation, blood pressure, level of physical activity, sedentary time (ST), and eating habits, as well as biochemical variables by a portable analyzer. The IG participated in two weekly sessions of physical activities and controlled physical exercises for 14 weeks. The sessions lasted 60’, and were divided into warm-up (5-10’), main part (40-50’), and recovery (5-10’). Results: 30.8% of the IG and 24.4% of the CG were classified as overweight/obese. Additionally, the IG showed significantly lower ST (total: p=0.037; daily: p=0.009) after the intervention, as well as in the post-period (total ST: p=0.043; daily ST: p=0.007). The IG showed a reduction in glycemia (p=0.025). Conclusion: The intervention program generated positive changes in glycemia levels and ST. These results suggest that interventions involving physical exercise should be promoted in the school environment, as physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle.
Highlights
Adolescence is the ideal life stage to promote good living habits and the prevention of cardiovascular risk factors, since one’s lifestyle in this stage tends to persist into adulthood[1]
The control group (CG)’s age and age of peak height velocity (PHV) were significantly higher than that of the intervention group (IG) (p < 0.01). Both groups were homogeneous at baseline and there were no significant differences in anthropometric or body composition variables in the pre-intervention period
Our findings demonstrated that a 14-week intervention program involving controlled physical activity generated positive changes in glycemia and sedentary time, but not in body composition and physical activity level, which seems to indicate that the period of time was insufficient to bring about these kinds of changes
Summary
Adolescence is the ideal life stage to promote good living habits and the prevention of cardiovascular risk factors, since one’s lifestyle in this stage tends to persist into adulthood[1]. Interventions in the school setting may be a promising strategy to promote health through recreational and competitive physical activity, as well as nutrition education, since adolescents spend most of their time in this environment. As a developing country, has been facing the same problem as developed countries, showing a combined prevalence of overweight and obesity of approximately 30% in adolescents[4]. Overweight/obesity has negative effects on health throughout life, and physical activity (PA) is widely recognized as a preventive measure among adolescents[5,6,7]. It is considered important to reduce cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity combined with elevated blood pressure and glucose levels, and lipid abnormalities[1,8]
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