Better fitness, better results of a law against obesity

Background: Fitness is an important predictor of health in children and adolescents; however, to date has not been demonstrated the protective effect against critical periods related to obesity. Objective: To evaluate the influence of fitness on body composition parameters during national holidays, comparing the 1-year effects with and without the implementation of the "Law Super 8", considering the fitness as a preventive and possible potential law enhancer. Method: Sample was composed by 48 schoolchildren between 10 and 13 years of age. Fitness (cardiorespirawry and muscular) and body composition (weight, body mass index [BMI], triponderal mass index [TMI], fat mass index [FMI], % fat and % muscle) were evaluated during two week of September 2015 (without law) and 2016 (with law). A general linear model and t-student test were used, setting the significant value at p<0.05. Results: body composition (body weight, FMI, BMI Z-score and % fat) of those children presenting low fitness level worsened during national holidays after implementation of law (p<0.05), while those with high fitness level showed favorable changes in % muscular, FMI, and TMI (p<0.05). Conclusion: Changes produced due to "Super 8" law seem to affect positively just children who have high fitness level, preventing increase of variables of body composition related to obesity.