[Level of physical activity after implementation of a physical exercise program in schoolchildren].

Abstract

Objective: To relate anthropometric measures and the level of physical activity pre and post implementation of a physical exercise program aimed at school children between 11 and 14 years of age in a public educational institution.

Methods: Experimental study, the sample was made up of 282 school children, (211) intervention group and (71) control group. The PAQ-A (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents) was applied and anthropometric measurements were taken (weight, height, abdominal perimeter, body mass index). The researchers designed and implemented a physical exercise program during physical education classes.

Results: At the initial assessment, 28% of the students in the intervention group were classified as active, a proportion that was maintained for the final assessment without significant changes (27.5%); 28.1% of the control group was active at the initial assessment, a proportion that rose to 31.2%, also without significant changes (p>0.05). Regarding the BMI/age indicator, the proportion of students with overweight or obesity decreased from 40.3% in the pre-intervention to 37.6% in the post-intervention.

Conclusions: The level of active physical activity predominated in the male gender, without significant differences; likewise, it can be stated that it decreases with age. The physical exercise program did not have significant effects on anthropometric measures of the population under study, and indirectly it was possible to raise awareness among the different actors about the importance of regular practice of physical activity as a protective factor of health.