In Granada they demonstrate that obese children can reduce their risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease with five months of exercise.

GRANADA, January 18 (EUROPE PRESS) –

A study carried out by researchers from the Faculty of Physical and Sports Education of the University of Granada (UGR), in collaboration with pediatricians from the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology of the Clinical University Hospital of San Cecilio and external national and international partners, showed that schoolchildren with obese people who play sports improve their physical condition and health, and in particular they can reduce the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease with just five months of exercise.

The work, published in the scientific journal JAMA Network Open, shows that exercise performed regularly by these minors during the five-month program allowed them to “reduce their levels of cardiometabolic risk, LDL cholesterol, body mass index, and fat mass.” and visceral fat, and also improves their aerobic capacity,” as detailed by UGR this Thursday in a press release.

One of the most notable results is that nearly 80 percent of children who completed the exercise program achieved a “significant reduction” in total fat, said UGR Department of Physical and Sports Education professor and research fellow. Responsible for the project is Francisco Bartolome Ortega.

“In addition, we observed that more schoolchildren with a high probability of developing metabolic syndrome managed to leave this risk group as a result of completing this physical exercise program,” said an employee of the department of physical education and sports. Education UGR and one of the main investigators of the study Jairo Hidalgo Miguelez.

“A similar trend was observed in boys and girls, who moved from poor to optimal fitness based on aerobic capacity,” the scientist added.

This is an exercise program based on group games without special equipment, including simple activities such as running on a treadmill and doing strength exercises at moderate to high intensity. That is, in conditions similar to those that occur in the school environment or in extracurricular activities, which means that the program is socially transferable to a regular context.

“This study demonstrates the importance of incorporating exercise to treat childhood obesity and prevent the development of metabolic problems,” explained Cristina Cadenas Sanchez, another researcher who coordinated the work.