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Article

Play as a Method to Reduce Overweight and Obesity in Children: An RCT

by
Antonio Manuel Sánchez-López
1,2,
María José Menor-Rodríguez
2,3,*,
Juan Carlos Sánchez-García
2,4 and
María José Aguilar-Cordero
2,4
1
Department of Human Motricity and Sports Performance, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain
2
Research group CTS 367, Andalusia, Spain
3
Nursing Department, Ourense University Hospital Complex, 32005 Ourense, Spain
4
Nursing Department, University of Granada, 18002 Granada, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(1), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010346
Submission received: 29 October 2019 / Revised: 24 December 2019 / Accepted: 25 December 2019 / Published: 3 January 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management and Promotion of Healthy Habits and Active Life)

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity are the result of a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors, which begins prenatally. Aim: To analyse an intervention based on play as a means of improving the body composition of children who are overweight or obese. Methods: The Kids-Play study is a randomized clinical trial (RCT) consisting of 49 children aged 8–12 years on a nine-month intervention programme based on physical activity, play and nutritional advice. Controls had another 49 children, who received only nutritional advice. Results: The play-based intervention achieved a moderate-vigorous level of physical activity in the study group of 81.18 min per day, while the corresponding level for the control group was only 37.34 min. At the start of the intervention, the children in the study group had an average body fat content of 41.66%, a level that decreased to 38.85% by the end of the programme. Among the control group, body fat increased from 38.83% to 41.4% during the same period. Conclusions: The intervention programme considered, based on both play and nutritional recommendations, produced a decrease in body fat among children aged 8–12 years. However, the control group, which received only nutritional recommendations, experienced an increase in body weight.
Keywords: obesity; play; physical activity; body composition; accelerometry obesity; play; physical activity; body composition; accelerometry

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Sánchez-López, A.M.; Menor-Rodríguez, M.J.; Sánchez-García, J.C.; Aguilar-Cordero, M.J. Play as a Method to Reduce Overweight and Obesity in Children: An RCT. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010346

AMA Style

Sánchez-López AM, Menor-Rodríguez MJ, Sánchez-García JC, Aguilar-Cordero MJ. Play as a Method to Reduce Overweight and Obesity in Children: An RCT. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(1):346. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010346

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sánchez-López, Antonio Manuel, María José Menor-Rodríguez, Juan Carlos Sánchez-García, and María José Aguilar-Cordero. 2020. "Play as a Method to Reduce Overweight and Obesity in Children: An RCT" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 1: 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010346

APA Style

Sánchez-López, A. M., Menor-Rodríguez, M. J., Sánchez-García, J. C., & Aguilar-Cordero, M. J. (2020). Play as a Method to Reduce Overweight and Obesity in Children: An RCT. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(1), 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010346

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