Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and community
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J Child Health Care · Sep 2006
Obesity and physical fitness of pre-adolescent children during the academic year and the summer period: effects of organized physical activity.
This study examined obesity and parameters of physical fitness in 178 elementary schoolchildren during an academic year as well as after the summer holidays. Results showed significant physical fitness improvements during the school year, with little or no changes in the summer holidays. ⋯ Longitudinal modelling using generalized estimating equations demonstrated that physical activity is a major contributing factor for obesity over time, masking the singular effect of various fitness parameters. It is concluded that pre-adolescent children advance in physical fitness mainly during the school year, with physical activity being a beneficial countermeasure for the development of obesity.