The Effects of Football Practice on Nutritional Status and Body Composition in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Impact of Soccer-Based Training Interventions on Anthropometric Measures Among Children and Adolescents With Overweight/Obesity: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Assessment of Certainty of Evidence

PURPOSE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to systematically examine and summarize recent evidence on the effects of soccer-based training (SBT) on anthropometric measures in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity.

METHODS

Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis 2020 guidelines, a thorough literature search across 7 electronic databases was conducted on October 11, 2023. The studies' methodological quality was evaluated using the QualSyst tool, followed by conducting a meta-analysis with a random-effects model, and the certainty of evidence was assessed.

RESULTS

Six studies were included, with 4 studies of strong methodological quality and 2 studies of moderate methodological quality. The results of the meta-analysis revealed SBT decreases fat mass percentage (effect size [ES] = 0.47 [small]; P = .002), with no significant effect of SBT on body mass index (ES = 0.180 [small]; P = .275), body mass (ES = 0.183 [trivial]; P = .212), fat-free mass (ES = 0.074 [trivial]; P = .635), or waist circumference (ES = 0.358 [small]; P = .053). The certainty of evidence was moderate for all outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

SBT appears to decrease fat mass percentage, without affecting body mass, body mass index, fat-free mass, or waist circumference in obese/overweight children and adolescents. These findings require further investigation given the moderate certainty of evidence.

REGISTRATION

The protocol of this review was registered in the Open Science Framework database (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/8P4V2).

Sports and Weight Control in Children

Pediatric obesity is a global concern with distressing comorbid conditions, including mood disturbance, cardiovascular changes, endocrine imbalance, liver disease, sleep apnea, and orthopedic conditions. The primary treatment of this condition includes physical activity. Participating in organized sports has been shown to reduce weight and the complications of pediatric obesity more effectively than individual exercise.

Changes in Estimated Body Composition and Physical Fitness of Adolescent Boys after One Year of Soccer Training

Sports participation is one of the most popular forms of physical activity among youngsters. This study aimed to examine the changes in the estimated body composition, strength, and flexibility of adolescent boys after 12 months of soccer training compared with those of age-matched controls with non-sports participation. We assessed 137 boys (62 soccer players and 75 controls) at baseline (TM1) and 12 months later (TM2). The differences in estimated body composition, strength, and flexibility were investigated using a repeated measure analysis of variance. The analysis revealed a significant main effect of soccer training on fat mass (F = 73.503, p ≤ 0.01, η2 = 0.59) and fat-free mass (F = 39.123, p ≤ 0.01, η2 = 0.48). Over time, the soccer group decreased their fat mass and increased their fat-free mass, while the opposite results were observed for the controls. Among physical fitness tests, a substantial effect of soccer training was evidenced for the sit-up performance (F = 16.224, p ≤ 0.01, η2 = 0.32). Regarding the time factor, significant effects were noted for height and handgrip strength. No significant differences were detected for flexibility. Overall, the benefits of soccer training were exhibited by the larger improvements in fat mass, fat-free mass, sit-ups, and handgrip strength performance, underlining the important role of soccer participation during adolescence.

Biomechanical Analysis and Training Method Research on Head Shot Strength of Football Players

With the development of intelligent sports in China and the rapid improvement of the strength of colleges and universities, the reform of traditional football players' header shooting training methods is becoming more and more urgent in order to solve some problems in the development of sports and speed up the intelligent training of Chinese football players. Based on this, this paper studies the biomechanical analysis and training method based on the integration of header strength data of football players. A dynamic header tracking model of football players based on a local search algorithm is designed. The data collection is realized from the aspects of athletes' header shooting training, skill improvement, physical consumption, and trajectory. The biological data of header shooting power is comprehensively analyzed and evaluated by using a local search algorithm. The results show that the training system based on a local search algorithm has the advantages of high feasibility, high data accuracy, and fast response speed. It can effectively conduct accurate guidance and improve the shooting accuracy according to the biological characteristics of header shooting intensity. This paper studies the biological analysis and training method of header strength of football players based on a local search algorithm. This has certain reference significance for accelerating the construction of intelligent training of Chinese football players.

Body Composition Assessment and Mediterranean Diet Adherence in U12 Spanish Male Professional Soccer Players: Cross-Sectional Study

Soccer is the most practiced team sport in the world. Due to the importance of nutrition in soccer performance, controlling the body composition and dietary guidelines of players takes place starting from lower categories. The objective of this study was to evaluate body composition and adherence to the Mediterranean diet of U12 players from a professional soccer team and to identify their dietary weak points. Seventy-one U12 male soccer players participated in the study. Weight, height, percentiles, skinfolds, and body fat were measured by a certified anthropometrist following the procedures recommended by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. The Mediterranean diet adherence test (KIDMED) was the questionnaire used to evaluate eating habits. In addition, a comparison was made among field positions. The results showed percentiles and body fat percentages appropriate for their age. Furthermore, the average score on the KIDMED test showed that the players generally adhered well to the Mediterranean diet, although they should improve their consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as avoid skipping breakfast. Moreover, goalkeepers and defenders had a higher percentile BMI and percentage of fat than midfielders and forwards. In addition, these players had lower KIDMED values than midfielders and forwards. Although U12 soccer players have an appropriate body composition and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, there are differences between the different field positions that should be assessed by coaches, doctors, and nutritionists/dietitians.