Effects of Aquatic Training on Waist Circumference and Body Composition among Children: A Meta-analysis

PURPOSE: Aquatic training assists in reducing the risk of exercise on joints among children. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of aquatic training for children from the perspective of body composition.METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed to determine the potential impact of aquatic training in children. Four databases, namely Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO, were used for the systematic search from September 2010 to November 2021. The mean differences in the data were analyzed using Stata 15.1 software with a 95% confidence interval. Outcome measures included weight, body mass index (BMI), fat percentage (Fat%), and waist circumference.RESULTS: Eleven studies, comprising eight randomized controlled trials (RCT) and three non-RCT studies, evaluating the effect of aquatic training on children were analyzed and reported. Aquatic training significantly improved the BMI (p<.01) and Fat% (p<.01) in children (ES (95% CI)=-0.23 (-0.38, -0.08) and ES (95% CI)=-0.27 (-0.45, -0.08). However, aquatic training had no significant effect on weight (p=.41), ES (95% CI)=-0.07 (-0.25, 0.10), and waist circumference (p=.11) in children, ES (95% CI)=-0.33 (-0.74, 0.08).CONCLUSIONS: Aquatic training can improve children’s BMI and body fat% but nottheir weight, waist circumference, and muscle mass. Aquatic training may be a potential exercise program for improving body composition in children.