Effects of a School-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Obesity, Health-Related Physical Fitness, and Blood Pressure in Children with Intellectual Disability: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aiwei Wang, Danran Bu, Siyue Yu, Yan Sun, Jingjing Wang, Tinky Chin Ting Lee, Julien S. Baker and Yang Gao ()
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Aiwei Wang: College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
Danran Bu: Department of Sport, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
Siyue Yu: JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Yan Sun: Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Jingjing Wang: Mass Sports Research Center, China Institute of Sport Science, Beijing 100061, China
Tinky Chin Ting Lee: Centre for Health and Exercise Science Research, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Julien S. Baker: Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Yang Gao: Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: Children with intellectual disability (ID) are more vulnerable to health conditions than their typically developing peers. Evidence of effective interventions is scarce. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 30 overweight and obese children with intellectual disability (ID) in China to evaluate a 12-week school-based physical activity intervention for obesity, health-related physical fitness (HRPF), and blood pressure. The intervention consisted of 24 physical activity (PA) sessions (2 sessions/week, 60 min/session), with exercise intensity progressively increasing from a moderate level to a vigorous level. All participants were followed up for 12 weeks after the intervention period to evaluate sustained effects. Outcomes were repeatedly measured at baseline, after the intervention, and after follow-up. The intervention was effective in reducing some obesity-related outcomes (including weight and body mass index) and improving some HRPF-related outcomes (including the 6 min walk test and the 30 s sit-to-stand test), with the significant effects being sustained after the 12-week follow-up. No effect was observed on blood pressure. The findings of this study contribute to the development and implementation of PA interventions to reduce obesity and improve HRPF in children with ID.

Keywords: children; intellectual disability; intervention; randomized controlled trial (RCT); physical activity; exercise; overweight; obesity; health-related fitness; blood pressure; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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