Physical activity interventions are not helpful in reducing weight or increasing the overall activity of children, a new study says.
Researchers from Plymouth and Exeter in England drew this conclusion after examining 30 studies conducted between 1990 and 2012. Out of these, eight studies were based only on obese and overweight children.
Factors like age, ethnicity, socio-economic status and gender of the participants were taken into consideration. All the participants aged 16 or below completed a one month's physical activity intervention.
One of the studies, conducted in U.S. included 729 children. All the participants, with an average age of 11 underwent 90 minutes sessions after the school, including 60 minutes high intensity activity three times a week. However, researchers found the children only taking an extra five minutes of walking or running during the interventions.
Another study in Scotland included 268 nursery children. They were provided with 30 minutes sessions three times a week. Supporting the findings of the first study, children were found spending less time on walking and running.
Researchers found the formal interventions helping only to increase "small-to-negligible" increase in children's total activity time. According to them, these formal interventions are helping only to replace children's after school outdoor intense activities and less effective in reducing weight.
"This review provides strong evidence that physical activity interventions have had only a small effect (approximately 4 minutes more walking or running per day) on children's overall activity levels. This finding may explain, in part, why such interventions have had limited success in reducing the body mass index or body fat of children," the authors wrote.
Findings of the study have been published in the British Medical Journal.
Regular physical activity plays an important role in a child's growth. According to CDC, apart from improving the strength and endurance of children and youth, it also helps in the development of healthy bones, muscles, reduces anxiety, stress, increases self-esteem, improves blood pressure, cholesterol levels and helps to control weight.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), children and youth aged between five and 17 should involve in 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity every day to keep themselves fit and fine.
