Could Overweight and Obese Children Improve Their Motor Performance With A Qualitative Physical Activity Approach?

Maria Chiara Gallotta; Gian Pietro Emerenziani; Sara Iazzoni; Marco Meucci; Laura Guidetti; Carlo Baldari

Volume : IV, Issue : V, May - 2014

Could Overweight and Obese Children Improve Their Motor Performance With A Qualitative Physical Activity Approach?

Maria Chiara Gallotta, Gian Pietro Emerenziani, Sara Iazzoni, Marco Meucci, Laura Guidetti, Carlo Baldari

Abstract :

To verify the effects of two 5–months physical activity (PA) interventions on motor performance of 53 over –weight/obese children of a traditional PA, coordinative PA, or control group (no PA intervention). Pre–and–post intervention tests assessed student’s fitness (pacer, curl–up, push–up, trunk lift, sit and reach tests) and motor coordination abilities by means of the Körperkoordinationstestfür Kinder (KTK).Our results showed that children who participated in our study improved four of the nine tests proposedafter the school PA interventions. However, no differential changes on coordinative development were observed. Results of our study demonstrated that overweight and obese children could benefit of a well–structured PA intervention with a regular participation improving their poor physical performance. Moreover, our study demonstrated the effectiveness of a qualitative approach in a school–based PA intervention to improve motor performance of overweight and obese children.