Prevention of Overweight and Hypertension through Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Extracurricular Sport Participation among South African Schoolchildren

Siphesihle Nqweniso, Cheryl Walter, Rosa du Randt, Ann Aerts, Larissa Adams, Jan Degen, Stefanie Gall, Zaahira Gani, Nandi Joubert, Ivan Müller, Danielle Smith, Harald Seelig, Peter Steinmann, Nicole Probst-Hensch, Jürg Utzinger, Uwe Pühse and Markus Gerber
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Siphesihle Nqweniso: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6001, South Africa
Cheryl Walter: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6001, South Africa
Rosa du Randt: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6001, South Africa
Ann Aerts: Novartis Foundation, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
Larissa Adams: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6001, South Africa
Jan Degen: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Stefanie Gall: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Zaahira Gani: Novartis, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
Nandi Joubert: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Ivan Müller: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Danielle Smith: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6001, South Africa
Harald Seelig: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Peter Steinmann: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Nicole Probst-Hensch: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Jürg Utzinger: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Uwe Pühse: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Markus Gerber: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: Hypertension and overweight are growing public health concerns in school-aged children. We examined whether cardiorespiratory fitness and sport participation contribute to the prevention of hypertension and overweight. We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial with 853 children aged 8–13 years in eight primary schools in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Cardiorespiratory fitness, sport participation, body mass index, and blood pressure were assessed at baseline and after a physical activity intervention, which took place at two time-points (July–September 2015 and February–April 2016) for 10 weeks each. Mixed logistic regressions were employed to analyze the data. At baseline, 18.8% of the children were classified as overweight/obese and 13.5% as hypertensive. High cardiorespiratory fitness and high sport participation were negatively associated with overweight/obesity, while high sport participation was associated with lower risk for hypertension. Longitudinally, normal weight children who initially had higher cardiorespiratory fitness showed less decrease in this variable, while those who participated in the physical activity intervention were less likely to become overweight/obese. High cardiorespiratory fitness and sport participation are linked with children’s weight status. Children who are fit and participate regularly in sport outside school hours are less likely to be hypertensive. Our findings highlight the importance of regular extracurricular physical activity and maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness levels.

Keywords: cardiorespiratory fitness; hypertension; obesity; overweight; physical activity; schoolchildren; sport participation; South Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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