Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of an inschool, 12-week physical fitness program on certain coronary heart disease risk factors in 7 to 9 year old children. Eleven boys and girls were assigned to a special 25 min per day, 4 days per week fitness program (experimental group). The control group participated in the regular 1 day per week physical education program (N = 12). All children completed an incremental maximum bicycle test before and after the program. A 20-ml blood sample was drawn for blood lipid analysis, and percent body fat was predicted from bone diameters and circumferences pre- and post-training. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) employed to assess post-training differences between the groups for the V02 max test, body composition measures, and blood lipid variables revealed nosignificant training effects for any of the measures. However, one child in the experimental group classified as a type IV hyperlipidemic had a normal post-training classification that did not occur in the type IV control. The results of this study reveal that a maturity-related factor determines, in part, a childs potential forphysiologic alterations to occur consequent to physical training. Verf.-Referat