Nursing

Psychological intervention

Gerontology

Linguistics

Philosophy

Fat mass

Body mass index

Psychology

Body weight

Physical fitness

Physical therapy

Lean body mass

Internal medicine

Intervention (counseling)

Medicine

Physical activity

Composition (language)

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

Children and adolescents in the U.S. fail to meet physical activity guidelines and health consequences associated with inactivity, such as high body fat composition, continue to impact children. Targeting children for physical activity and fitness interventions have the potential to improve body composition; however, little is known on body composition changes during a fitness-based intervention. PURPOSE: To determine changes in body composition for children participating in a fitness-based intervention. METHODS: 21 children (age = 9.38 ± 3.82, BMI = 21.0, body fat percentage = 30.90) participated in an 8-week, structured fitness intervention consisting of 1-hour weekly sessions. Weekly sessions provided fitness opportunities in a fun, non-competitive environment with the purpose to elicit moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Pre- and Post-testing using the iDXA was conducted to detail changes in body composition. RESULTS: Results from a paired samples t-test showed significant increases in the following body composition measures: Left Leg Lean Mass (t = -2.366, p = .028), Right Leg Lean Mass (t = -3.914, p = .001), Lean Mass Truck (t = -2.766, p = .012), Lean Mass Total ( t = -4.575, p <.001), Right Leg Bone Mass (t = -2.500, p = .021) and Bone Mass Total ( t = -3.826, p = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Participation in an 8-week fitness intervention showed positive body composition changes for children. These changes occurred with minimal intervention (1 hour per week). Future studies should determine the duration of the effect.

Body Composition Changes Associated With A Structured Exercise Program Among Children And Adolescents