The effect of exercise on cardiovascular risk markers in Mexican school-aged children: comparison between two
Margie Balas-Nakash1, Alejandra Benítez-Arciniega, Otilia Perichart-Perera
1Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, México, DF.
Objective:
To assess the effects of two groups of exercise routines on cardiovascular disease risk markers.
Material And Methods:
An intervention study was conducted with 319 Mexican school-aged children in which routines were implemented Monday through Friday for 12 weeks. Routine A was the reference group, with 20 min of less intense activity and routine B was the new group with 40 min of aerobic exercises. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fat mass percentage (FM%), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipids, lipoproteins, glucose and insulin were measured before and after the intervention.
Results:
Routine A had an effect on diastolic pressure, while routine B had an effect on BMI, FM%, blood pressure and triglycerides. Routine B had a greater effect on blood pressure than routine A. The prevalence of obesity, high blood pressure and hypertriglyceridemia decreased in both groups.
Conclusion:
Aerobic exercise is an effective health promotion strategy to reduce some cardiovascular disease risk markers.
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