Pediatric Nutrition in Practice

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