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Salud Pública de México
Print version ISSN 0036-3634
Abstract
GATICA-DOMINGUEZ, Giovanna et al. Physical fitness of school age children post-implementation of an educational intervention to prevent childhood obesity in Morelos, Mexico. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2019, vol.61, n.1, pp.78-85. Epub Jan 01, 2019. ISSN 0036-3634. https://doi.org/10.21149/9389.
Objective:
To compare the physical fitness of children from eight elementary schools in Morelos, México after the imple mentation of an intervention to prevent childhood obesity.
Materials and methods:
214 children were randomly selected (111 - intervention community and 103 - control community). Physical fitness was evaluated by the 6 minutes walking test and the 50 meters speed test, as well as the number of steps/day.
Results:
The median of time in the speed test at the intervention site was 11.3 seconds and 13.8 seconds at the control site (p<0.001). The median distance traveled in the walking test was 550 m in the intervention site and 420 m in the control site (p<0.001). The children of the intervention community took a median of 15 161 steps/ day and those of the control community took 13 749 steps/ day (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
Children from the intervention community have significantly better physical fitness.
Keywords : physical fitness; exercise; obesity; physical education and training.