Physical Activity, Health and Nutrition 69
1
(2) What type and amount (frequency, intensity
and duration) of PA is needed to bring about
these benefits?
Allowing for variation among and limitations
of studies, health benefits of PA are summarized
in table 1. Data addressing the first question are
largely derived from comparisons of active with
less active youth and from studies of specific PA
programs. Data addressing the second question
are derived from experimental and intervention-
al programs which varied to some extent in set-
ting (schools, recreation centers, etc.) and in du-
ration, type and amount of PA. In general, the
majority involved protocols of moderate-to-vig-
orous PA for 30–45 min, 3–5 days per week. Du-
rations of programs varied to a greater extent.
Programs in studies on bone health were more
variable: moderate-to-vigorous PA 2–3 days per
week, 45–60 min of weight-bearing activities
and/or 10 min of high-impact activities [2].
Ta b l e 1. Summary of trends in studies on relationships of habitual PA to selected indicators of health status and of
the effects of specific PA programs (experimental, interventional) on indicators of health status
Health indicator Relationships to PA Effects of specific PA programs
Adiposity Normal weight: less adiposity in habitually
active youth
Normal weight: minimal effect
Overweight/obese: reduction in overall and
central adiposity with PA interventions
Bone Increased bone mineral content in active
youth
Variety of PA programs: increased bone
mineral content and bone strength
Lipids and
lipoproteins
Habitual PA: weak associations with TC,
HDL-C, LDL-C and triglycerides
Weak beneficial effect of MVPA on HDL-C
and triglycerides; no effect on TC and LDL-C
Blood pressures Normotensive youth: no clear association
between habitual PA and blood pressures
Hypertensive youth: aerobic PA programs
favorably influence blood pressures
Mild essential hypertension: suggestive
beneficial effect
Cardiovascular
health
Habitual PA: weak associations with levels
of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein;
inconclusive for endothelial function
Obese youth: aerobic PA programs improve
resting vagal tone (heart rate variability)
Metabolic syndrome
- cardiometabolic
complications
High PA and CRF: better metabolic profile;
association stronger for CRF than for PA
Overweight/obese youth: improved
metabolic profile with PA intervention
CRF Habitual PA associated with higher CRF Experimental PA programs: favorable
influence on CRF; gains of approx. 10%
(3 – 4 ml/kg/min)
Muscular strength
and endurance
Habitual PA: not consistently related to
muscular strength and endurance
Experimental PA programs: significant
gains, which vary with protocol – larger
gains in strength with high resistance and
low repetitions, larger gains in endurance
with low resistance and high repetitions
Collated from several sources [2 – 4, 7 – 15]. TC = Total cholesterol; HDL-C/LDL-C = HDL/LDL cholesterol; MVPA =
moderate-to-vigorous PA.
Koletzko B, et al. (eds): Pediatric Nutrition in Practice. World Rev Nutr Diet. Basel, Karger, 2015, vol 113, pp 68–71
DOI: 10.1159/000360318