Focus on strength: Design, development, production, implementation and evaluation of an overweight prevention program

Research output: ThesisDoctoral ThesisInternal

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Abstract

Obesity prevention in children usually focusses on body weight (BMI), which means: eat less, exercise more. This dissertation advocates a different approach, namely strength training. Strength training increases fat-free mass, which results in an improved body composition and health status. Another advantage of this approach is that it is more suitable for obese children. Physical education of lower MBO/HAVO (senior secondary vocational education/higher general secondary education) classes participating in the study included strength training and motivational lessons. Compared to control schools, children attending the participating schools showed an improved body composition and increased after-school exercise behaviour after following the programme. Therefore, it is recommended that strength training is made an integral part of physical education.
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • Maastricht University
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Kok, Gerjo, Supervisor
  • Schols, Annemie, Supervisor
  • Plasqui, Guy, Co-Supervisor
Award date7 Jul 2017
Place of PublicationMaastricht
Publisher
Print ISBNs978-90-9030387-1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • children
  • obesity
  • prevention
  • strength training

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