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Sports camp with six months of support from a local sports club as a treatment of childhood obesity.

Nowicka, Paulina LU ; Lanke, Jan LU ; Pietrobelli, Angelo ; Apitzsch, Erwin LU and Flodmark, Carl-Erik LU (2009) In Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 37. p.793-800
Abstract
AIMS: Although childhood obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent, treatment options are limited and the continued development of effective treatment strategies is necessary. It is equally important to explore involvement of other resources in society, such as sports associations. This study was designed to investigate the possibility of reducing the degree of obesity in obese children by focusing on physical activity as an intervention. METHODS: Seventy-six children (40 boys) aged 8-12 years (mean age 10.5 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 28.9, standard deviation (SD) 3.0; mean BMI z-score 3.24, SD 0.49) were invited to participate in a one-week sports camp and six-month support system. After the camp a sports coach from a local sports... (More)
AIMS: Although childhood obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent, treatment options are limited and the continued development of effective treatment strategies is necessary. It is equally important to explore involvement of other resources in society, such as sports associations. This study was designed to investigate the possibility of reducing the degree of obesity in obese children by focusing on physical activity as an intervention. METHODS: Seventy-six children (40 boys) aged 8-12 years (mean age 10.5 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 28.9, standard deviation (SD) 3.0; mean BMI z-score 3.24, SD 0.49) were invited to participate in a one-week sports camp and six-month support system. After the camp a sports coach from a local sports club supported the child during participation in a chosen sport for six months. Weight, height, body composition (using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging), and lifestyle (using a questionnaire) were measured at baseline and after 12 months. Data were pooled from two camps, one with a self-selected control group and one randomized controlled trial. RESULTS: Twelve months after the camp the intervention group had a significant decrease in BMI z-score (baseline BMI z-score 3.22; follow up 3.10, p = 0.023). The control group also reduced their BMI z-score (baseline BMI z-score 3.27; follow up 3.18, p = 0.022). No differences were found in baseline values, follow-up values, or changes in BMI z-score between groups, nor between boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: The focus on physical activity as an intervention had no effect on degree of obesity when compared with a waiting list control group. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
volume
37
pages
793 - 800
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • wos:000271239600003
  • pmid:19717572
  • scopus:71049118071
ISSN
1651-1905
DOI
10.1177/1403494809344444
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
48e479f2-1271-4039-906b-07f7f9a9eea4 (old id 1484013)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19717572?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:42:04
date last changed
2022-03-15 20:34:32
@article{48e479f2-1271-4039-906b-07f7f9a9eea4,
  abstract     = {{AIMS: Although childhood obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent, treatment options are limited and the continued development of effective treatment strategies is necessary. It is equally important to explore involvement of other resources in society, such as sports associations. This study was designed to investigate the possibility of reducing the degree of obesity in obese children by focusing on physical activity as an intervention. METHODS: Seventy-six children (40 boys) aged 8-12 years (mean age 10.5 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 28.9, standard deviation (SD) 3.0; mean BMI z-score 3.24, SD 0.49) were invited to participate in a one-week sports camp and six-month support system. After the camp a sports coach from a local sports club supported the child during participation in a chosen sport for six months. Weight, height, body composition (using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging), and lifestyle (using a questionnaire) were measured at baseline and after 12 months. Data were pooled from two camps, one with a self-selected control group and one randomized controlled trial. RESULTS: Twelve months after the camp the intervention group had a significant decrease in BMI z-score (baseline BMI z-score 3.22; follow up 3.10, p = 0.023). The control group also reduced their BMI z-score (baseline BMI z-score 3.27; follow up 3.18, p = 0.022). No differences were found in baseline values, follow-up values, or changes in BMI z-score between groups, nor between boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: The focus on physical activity as an intervention had no effect on degree of obesity when compared with a waiting list control group.}},
  author       = {{Nowicka, Paulina and Lanke, Jan and Pietrobelli, Angelo and Apitzsch, Erwin and Flodmark, Carl-Erik}},
  issn         = {{1651-1905}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{793--800}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Public Health}},
  title        = {{Sports camp with six months of support from a local sports club as a treatment of childhood obesity.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1403494809344444}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/1403494809344444}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}