Effect Of Physical Exercise and Yoga on Blood Pressure Weight and Quality of Life Among School Children

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlinePrevention and early diagnosis of cardiovascular risk factors such as overweight and hypertension is an essential strategy in its control, effective treatment and prevention of its complications. The aim of the study is to assess the effect of physical exercise and yoga on blood pressure, weight and quality of life among school children. An experimental study was conducted among 201 school children 97 and 104 children were randomly selected for control and study group, respectively. Demographic details and the data related to dietary habits, physical activity and sleep quality were collected by a structured interview questionnaire. The study group school children were given physical exercise and yoga for six months which includes a school-based rope exercise for 45 minutes per day for 5 days a week and an intervention related to dietary habits, physical activity and sleep. Post-test 1 and 2 were done after 3 and 6 months of intervention. The results revealed a prevalence of overweight among school children was 28.73% and prehypertension was 9.26%. Among overweight school children, the prevalence of prehypertension was found to be very high (32.25%). In post-intervention, there was a significant reduction in weight, BP (p=0.000) and improvement in dietary habits, physical activity, sleep (p=0.000) and Quality of Life (QOL). A significant positive correlation was found between BMI and SBP (p=0.000) and BMI and QOL (p=0.003). Regular practice of rope exercise and lifestyle modification such as diet, physical activity and sleep quality among school children prevent and control childhood CVD risk factors like overweight, hypertension. Physical exercise and yoga may lead to age-appropriate development of school children and improve their quality of life. newline newline