Effects of Physical Activity and Nutrition Education on the Gut Microbiota in Overweight and Obese Children

Micaela C. Morgado, Mónica Sousa, Cláudia Marques, André B. Coelho, Júlio A. Costa, André Seabra

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1 Citation (Scopus)
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Abstract

Childhood obesity continues to represent a growing challenge, and it has been associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. This study examines the gut microbiota composition in overweight and obese school children and assesses whether a 12-week multidisciplinary intervention can induce changes in the gut microbiota. The intervention, which combined recreational football and nutritional education, was implemented among 15 school children, aged 7–10 years, with a Body Mass Index ≥ 85th percentile. The children were assigned into two groups: Football Group (n = 9) and Nutrition and Football Group (n = 6). Faecal samples were collected at the beginning and end of the program and analysed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Over the intervention, a significant decrease was found collectively for Bifidobacterium genera (p = 0.011) and for Roseburia genera in the Football Group (p = 0.021). The relative abundance of Roseburia (p = 0.002) and Roseburia faecis (p = 0.009) was negatively correlated with moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), while Prevotella copri was positively correlated with MVPA (p = 0.010) and with the daily intake of protein (p = 0.008). Our findings suggest that a multidisciplinary intervention was capable of inducing limited but significant positive changes in the gut microbiota composition in overweight and obese school children.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1242
JournalChildren
Volume10
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2023

Keywords

  • Bifidobacterium
  • childhood obesity
  • Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio
  • football
  • gut microbiota
  • nutrition
  • physical activity
  • Prevotella

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