Childhood obesity is a growing concern, with potential consequences for long-term health. The number of obese children has increased more than tenfold in the last forty years. Over the course of their lifetimes, more and more young people worldwide will be exposed to obesity, which will hasten the onset of type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, and cardiovascular problems. Promoting physical activity in children is crucial for maintaining a healthy weight and improving overall well-being. Less than 30% of kids and teenagers worldwide fulfill the recommended daily minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity. Since that most children and adolescents spend a significant amount of time traveling to and from school or attending school, schools may be the best places for interventions. This project will investigate the effectiveness of two common exercise approaches, aerobic training and circuit training, on body mass index (BMI), physical fitness, and quality of life in healthy children. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted, recruiting healthy children within a specific age range 8-12. This study will be conducted in the Leader's Lyceum School.Two experimental groups will be made. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an aerobic training group or a circuit training group. Non-probability convenient sampling technique will be used. The study will include the children from age 8 to 12, both genders, healthy children. Both programs will be implemented for a set duration of 12 weeks, with specific parameters regarding intensity, duration, and exercise types. The project will assess changes in BMI, physical fitness components (e.g., cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility), and quality of life through validated measures, including Pediatric Quality of Life Generic Score 4.0 (PedsQL), Physical Fitness Test, Presidential Fitness test and BMI.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
28
Group A will perform Aerobic training exercises will be conducted 2 times per 12 weeks in which the warm up phase for 10 minutes. 30 minutes of aerobic exercise like walking, jogging, cycling, calisthenics, rhythmic exercises, continuous slow running, sit ups and cool down phase for stretching Phase 1: stretching of upper limb, trunk, lower limb muscles for 10 minutes. Phase 2: Individualized walking, jogging, cycling, rhythmic exercises, continuous slow running, sit ups Phase 3: Cool down exercise for 10 minutes.
The training program will consist of 10 types of resistance and aerobic exercise and will be done 2 times per week for 12 weeks. Specifically, the resistance exercise program comprises of push-up, squat, crunches, lunge and superman exercise. An aerobic exercise program comprises of light jumping, running on the spot, foot stamping, stepping and jumping jack. Phase 1: In Warm up period, dynamic stretching for 10 minutes. Phase 2: Resistance and aerobic exercise (push-up, squat, crunches, lunge and superman exercise, light jumping, running on the spot, foot stamping, stepping and jumping jack) Phase 3: In cool down period, static stretching for 10 minutes.
Pediatric Quality of Life Generic Score 4.0 (PedsQL)
The PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales is a standardized tool used to measure health-related quality of life in children aged 2 to 18 years, through self-report and parent proxy-report. It includes 23 items across four domains-physical, emotional, social, and school functioning. Items are rated on a 5-point scale and converted to scores from 0-100, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.The PedsQL 4.0 has demonstrated high reliability, with Cronbach's alpha values typically above 0.70 for subscales and \>0.90 for the total score. It also shows strong validity, effectively distinguishing between healthy children and those with chronic conditions, and is sensitive to changes over time-making it a reliable and valid tool for assessing pediatric quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline, 4th week, 8th week, 12th week
Physical Fitness Test
A physical fitness test evaluates key components of fitness such as cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. It helps assess overall physical health and performance. When standardized and properly administered, these tests are generally considered valid (accurately measure fitness components) and reliable (produce consistent results over time).
Time frame: Baseline, 4th week, 8th week, 12th week
Presidential Fitness Test
The Presidential Fitness Test was a U.S. school-based program designed to assess children's physical fitness through activities like sit-ups, push-ups, a mile run, and flexibility tests. It aimed to promote health and fitness in youth. It has moderate to good reliability and validity for measuring specific fitness components like strength and endurance. It was generally consistent when properly administered, but less valid as a health-focused tool due to its emphasis on performance over personal progress.
Time frame: Baseline, 4th week, 8th week, 12th week
Body Mass Index
The BMI chart classifies individuals based on their body mass index (BMI) into categories like underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. While valid for large population assessments, it doesn't directly measure body fat and may misclassify individuals, such as athletes or older adults. It's reliable for general screening, but additional measures are needed for a more accurate assessment of individual health.
Time frame: Baseline, 4th week, 8th week, 12th week
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.