The training times of athletes could play a role in clinical sleep problems due to their associations with sleep difficulty scores.

OBJECTIVES: Sleep is a key component of athletic recovery, yet training times could influence the sleep of athletes. The aim of the current study was to compare sleep difficulties in athletes across different training time groups (early morning, daytime, late evening, early morning plus late evening) and to investigate whether training time can predict sleep difficulties. METHODS: Athletes from various sports who performed at a national-level (n = 273) answered the Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) along with several other questionnaires related to demographics, exercise training, and mental health. From the ASSQ, a Sleep Difficulty Score (SDS) was calculated. Transformed SDS (tSDS) was compared across different training time categories using multiple one-way ANOVAs. A stepwise regression was then used to predict tSDS from various sleep-related factors. RESULTS: SDSs ranged from none (31%), mild (38%), moderate (22%), and severe (9%). However, the one-way ANOVAs revealed training earlier or later vs. training daytime shifted the tSDS in a negative direction, a trend toward increased sleep difficulty. In particular, athletes training in the late evening (>20:00 or >21:00) had a significantly higher tSDS when compared to daytime training (p = .03 and p < .01, respectively). The regression model (p < .001) explained 27% of variance in the tSDS using depression score, age, training time, and chronotype score. CONCLUSION: Among a heterogeneous sample of national-level athletes, 31% displayed moderate to severe SDSs regardless of their training time. However, when athletes trained outside daytime hours there was a tendency for the prevalence of sleep difficulties to increase.

Analysis of Movement and Actions of Wingers as Second-Line Players in Organized Attack in Handball.

In modern handball, one of the important performance indicators is the effectiveness of the attack, especially the running-in of wingers as line players which has not been explored adequately. The purpose of the study was to analyze the movements of wingers in the organized attack when they run in. Fifty-eight matches were analyzed from the 2022 EHF European Men's Handball Championship. A total of 491 attacks were recorded and 45 variables were analyzed in which wingers ran in as second pivots and the outcome was a throw. For the statistical analysis, descriptive and inductive statistics were used. The results showed that the average time of the running-in was 12.11 ± 9.28 s, the left wing ran in more often (60.1%) and wingers tended to move outside the defense formation (72.5%). Wingers ran in without the ball in possession (81.1%), moved toward defenders 2 and 5 and stood next to defenders, and occasionally blocked, slid or left their position. The defense's central zone was preferred by players to make a throw. Correspondence analysis showed that wingers finally returned to their initial position regardless of the evolution of the attack. Their role was to block a specific defender or disorganize the defense, for one defender to be isolated so that one attacking player could execute a shot from the central area. Conclusively, wingers play an important role, especially in run-in actions, at the completion of an attack, and in the final throw.

The role of physical activity on obstructive sleep apnea severity and hypoxic load, and the mismatch between subjective and objective physical activity assessments.

Obesity is the primary risk factor for the development of obstructive sleep apnea, and physical inactivity plays an important role. However, most studies have either only evaluated physical activity subjectively or objectively in obstructive sleep apnea. The objectives of this study were: (i) to assess the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea severity (both apnea-hypopnea index and desaturation parameters) and both objectively and subjectively measured physical activity after adjustment for anthropometry and body composition parameters; and (ii) to assess the relationship between objective and subjective physical activity parameters and whether obstructive sleep apnea severity has a modulatory effect on this relationship. Fifty-four subjects (age 47.7 ± 15.0 years, 46% males) were categorized into groups according to obstructive sleep apnea severity: no obstructive sleep apnea; mild obstructive sleep apnea; and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea. All subjects were evaluated with subjective and objective physical activity, anthropometric and body composition measurements, and 3-night self-applied polysomnography. A one-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the differences between the three obstructive sleep apnea severity groups and multiple linear regression to predict obstructive sleep apnea severity. Differences in subjectively reported sitting time (p ≤ 0.004) were found between participants with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, and those with either mild or no obstructive sleep apnea (p = 0.004). Age, body mass index and neck circumference explained 63.3% of the variance in the apnea-hypopnea index, and age, body mass index and visceral adiposity explained 67.8% of the variance in desaturation parameters. The results showed that the person's physical activity does not affect obstructive sleep apnea severity. A weak correlation was found between objective and subjective physical activity measures, which could be relevant for healthcare staff encouraging patients with obstructive sleep apnea to increase their physical activity.

Review and perspective on sleep-disordered breathing research and translation to clinics.

Sleep-disordered breathing, ranging from habitual snoring to severe obstructive sleep apnea, is a prevalent public health issue. Despite rising interest in sleep and awareness of sleep disorders, sleep research and diagnostic practices still rely on outdated metrics and laborious methods reducing the diagnostic capacity and preventing timely diagnosis and treatment. Consequently, a significant portion of individuals affected by sleep-disordered breathing remain undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed. Taking advantage of state-of-the-art scientific, technological, and computational advances could be an effective way to optimize the diagnostic and treatment pathways. We discuss state-of-the-art multidisciplinary research, review the shortcomings in the current practices of SDB diagnosis and management in adult populations, and provide possible future directions. We critically review the opportunities for modern data analysis methods and machine learning to combine multimodal information, provide a perspective on the pitfalls of big data analysis, and discuss approaches for developing analysis strategies that overcome current limitations. We argue that large-scale and multidisciplinary collaborative efforts based on clinical, scientific, and technical knowledge and rigorous clinical validation and implementation of the outcomes in practice are needed to move the research of sleep-disordered breathing forward, thus increasing the quality of diagnostics and treatment.

Are they all born to score? The relationship between throwing arm and scoring from the 7-meter line in semi-professional handball.

ABSTRACTIndications of laterall biases favouring left-handers have been found in various sports; especially interactive sports where the athletes have limited time to react to incoming objects. The aim of this study was therefore to explore whether any lateral biases exist in handball by examining 7-meter shots. A total of 6846 7-meter throws from 240 7-meter shooters across four seasons in the semi-professional Icelandic elite handball division (male and female) were analyzed. Out of the 240 7-meter shooters, of which 151 were male and 89 were female, 22% were left-handed (22% of the males and 20% of the females). The left-handed 7-meter shooters took a disproportionate number of the 7-meter shots, with left-handed shooters performing 29% of the 7-meter shots (27% in the male league and 33% in the female league). The results of a Bayesian two-level analysis indicated that left-handedness is not associated with greater success from the 7-meter line at the semi-professional level.

Analyzing the Relationship between Participation in Sports and Harmful Alcohol Drinking in Early Adolescence: Two-Year Prospective Analysis.

Alcohol drinking is an important health-related problem and one of the major risk factors for a wide array of non-communicable diseases, while there is a lack of studies investigating environment-specific associations between sports participation and alcohol drinking in adolescence. This study prospectively investigated the relationship between sports factors (i.e., participation in sports and competitive achievement), with the prevalence of harmful alcohol drinking (HD), and HD initiation in 14-to-16 years old adolescents from Bosnia and Herzegovina (n = 641, 337 females, 43% living in rural community). Participants were tested over 4-time points divided by approximately 6 months, from the beginning of high school to the end of the second grade. Variables included gender, factors related to sport participation, a community of residence (urban or rural), and outcome: alcohol consumption was assessed by the AUDIT questionnaire. Results evidenced that the prevalence of HD increased over the study period from 6 to 19%, with no significant differences between urban and rural youth. Logistic regression for HD as criterion evidenced adolescents who participated in sports and then quit as being at particular risk for drinking alcohol at the study baseline. Sports factors were not correlated with HD initiation in the period between 14 and 16 years of age. It seems that the problem of alcohol drinking should be preventively targeted in all youth, irrespective of living environment. Although sports participation was not evidenced as being a factor of influence on HD initiation, results highlight the necessity of developing targeted preventive campaigns against alcohol drinking for adolescents who quit sports.

Effectiveness of Growing-Up Milk Containing Only A2 ß-Casein on Digestive Comfort in Toddlers: A Randomized Controlled Trial in China.

BACKGROUND: Emerging clinical evidence indicates the potential gastrointestinal (GI) benefits of milk containing only A2 ß-casein, but data from randomized controlled trials is sparse among pediatric populations. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of growing-up milk (GUM) containing only A2 ß-casein on GI tolerance in toddlers. METHODS: A total of 387 toddlers aged 12-36 months were recruited in Beijing, China, and randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to consume one of two commercially available A2 GUMs (combined in the analysis as A2 GUM) or continue their current feeding regimen of conventional milk for 14 days. The primary outcome was the total Gut Comfort Score (GCS) (range: 10-60; higher values indicate greater GI distress) derived from a 10-item (score range: 1-6 per item) parent-reported questionnaire, reflecting GI tolerance. RESULTS: The GCS (mean ± SD) was comparable between the A2 GUM and conventional milk groups on day 7 (14.7 ± 5.0 vs. 15.0 ± 6.1, p = 0.54) and day 14 (14.0 ± 4.5 vs. 14.3 ± 5.5, p = 0.51). Parents reported less constipation in those consuming A2 GUM vs. conventional milk on day 14 (1.3 ± 0.6 vs. 1.4 ± 0.9, p = 0.020). Among 124 participants with minor GI distress at baseline (GCS ≥ 17, top tertile range 17-35), GCS was significantly lower in those consuming A2 GUM on day 7 (18.2 ± 5.1 vs. 21.2 ± 6.8, p = 0.004) and day 14 (17.1 ± 5.3 vs. 19.6 ± 6.3, p = 0.026), as were individual GI symptoms (all p < 0.05). In the toddlers without GI issues at baseline (GCS < 17), a low GCS was maintained throughout the study period after switching to A2 GUM (mean values range 10-13). CONCLUSIONS: Growing-up milk containing only A2 ß-casein were well-tolerated and associated with lower parent-reported constipation scores after two weeks when compared to conventional milks. In healthy toddlers with minor GI distress, A2 GUM improved overall digestive comfort and GI-related symptoms within one week.

Nutrition in school-age children: a rationale for revisiting priorities.

Middle childhood and early adolescence have received disproportionately low levels of scientific attention relative to other life stages, especially as related to nutrition and health. This is partly due to the justified emphasis on the first 1000 days of life, and the idea that early deficits and consequences may not be fully reversible. In addition, these stages of life may superficially appear less "eventful" than infancy or late adolescence. Finally, there has been historical ambiguity and inconsistency in terminology, depending on whether viewing "childhood" through physiologic, social, legal, or other lenses. Nevertheless, this age bracket, which encompasses most of the primary education and basic schooling years for most individuals, is marked by significant changes, inflection points, and sexually driven divergence in somatic and brain growth and development trajectories. These constitute transformative changes, and thus middle childhood and early adolescence represents a major and last opportunity to influence long-term health and productivity. This review highlights the specificities of growth and development in school age, with a focus on middle childhood and early adolescence (5 years-15 years of age, for the purposes of this review), the role of nutrition, the short- and long-term consequences of inadequate nutrition, and the current global status of nutrition in this age group. Adequate attention and emphasis on nutrition in the school-age years is critical: (a) for maintaining an adequate course of somatic and cognitive development, (b) for taking advantage of this last major opportunity to correct deficits of undernutrition and "catch-up" to normal life course development, and (c) for addressing the nutritional inadequacies and mitigating the longer-term consequences of overnutrition. This review summarizes and provides a rationale for prioritizing nutrition in school-age children, and for the need to revisit priorities and focus on this part of the life cycle to maximize individuals' potential and their contribution to society.

Decline in Running Performance in Highest-Level Soccer: Analysis of the UEFA Champions League Matches.

It is widely recognized that there is a decline in match running performance (MRP) towards the end of matches. To clarify whether it is primarily a consequence of fatigue, pacing or situational influences, this study aimed to examine MRP across 15-min match periods for players on different playing positions. Players' MRP (n = 244) were examined from the UEFA Champions League matches (n = 20) using a semiautomatic optical tracking system. Linear mixed models for repeated measures were adjusted to analyze MRP over the six 15-min match periods while controlling the influence of situational factors. No effects of match outcome, match location, team, and opponent quality on total distance (TD) and high-intensity running (HIR) for players in all playing positions were found (F = 0.03−2.75; all p > 0.05). Significant differences in TD (F = 17.57−53.01; η2 = 0.39−0.52, all large effect sizes) and HIR (F = 3.67−7.64; η2 = 0.05−0.19, small to medium effect sizes) among six 15-minute match periods were found for players in all playing positions. In addition, players in all playing positions covered less TD (d = 1.41−2.15, large to very large effect sizes) and HIR (d = 0.16−0.6, trivial to medium effect sizes) in the last compared to the first 15-min match period. No differences in TD and HIR between the last two match periods in the second half were observed. This study confirmed that soccer players reduce MRP towards the end of matches, and suggest that the decline of MPR in highest-level soccer may be a consequence of pacing strategies.

The Sleep Revolution project: the concept and objectives.

Obstructive sleep apnea is linked to severe health consequences such as hypertension, daytime sleepiness, and cardiovascular disease. Nearly a billion people are estimated to have obstructive sleep apnea with a substantial economic burden. However, the current diagnostic parameter of obstructive sleep apnea, the apnea-hypopnea index, correlates poorly with related comorbidities and symptoms. Obstructive sleep apnea severity is measured by counting respiratory events, while other physiologically relevant consequences are ignored. Furthermore, as the clinical methods for analysing polysomnographic signals are outdated, laborious, and expensive, most patients with obstructive sleep apnea remain undiagnosed. Therefore, more personalised diagnostic approaches are urgently needed. The Sleep Revolution, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, aims to tackle these shortcomings by developing machine learning tools to better estimate obstructive sleep apnea severity and phenotypes. This allows for improved personalised treatment options, including increased patient participation. Also, implementing these tools will alleviate the costs and increase the availability of sleep studies by decreasing manual scoring labour. Finally, the project aims to design a digital platform that functions as a bridge between researchers, patients, and clinicians, with an electronic sleep diary, objective cognitive tests, and questionnaires in a mobile application. These ambitious goals will be achieved through extensive collaboration between 39 centres, including expertise from sleep medicine, computer science, and industry and by utilising tens of thousands of retrospectively and prospectively collected sleep recordings. With the commitment of the European Sleep Research Society and Assembly of National Sleep Societies, the Sleep Revolution has the unique possibility to create new standardised guidelines for sleep medicine.

The Changing Landscape of Children's Diet and Nutrition: New Threats, New Opportunities.

BACKGROUND: Over the last 30-40 years, we have seen an improvement in global child undernutrition, with major reductions in wasting and stunting. Meanwhile, childhood obesity has dramatically increased, initially in high-income populations and subsequently in the more economically vulnerable. These trends are related to significant changes in diet and external factors, including new environmental threats. SUMMARY: Obesity rates first increased in older children, then gradually in infants. And in the next couple of years, there will be more overweight and obese than moderately or severely underweight children in the world. The changes in childhood nutritional landscape are a result of poor diets. Today, almost 50% of the world's population consumes either too many or too few calories. Dietary disparities between countries result in disparities of under- and overnutrition and impact the global health landscape. Most children with obesity, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies live in lower income countries and in lower income families within any country. High energy-low nutrient diets are contributing to the increase in non-communicable diseases, which will manifest later in this generation of children. In 1990, child wasting was the #1 leading risk factor for mortality for all ages, and high BMI was #16; today, they are #11 and #5, respectively. COVID-19 and climate change are new major threats to global nutrition. Current and future efforts to improve the state of child nutrition require multisectoral approaches to reprioritize actions which address current trends and emerging threats.

Estimated Energy Requirements of Infants and Young Children up to 24 Months of Age.

BACKGROUND: Establishing energy requirements in infants and young children is important in developing age-appropriate diet recommendations but most published guidelines for energy requirements have 1 or more limitations related to the data underlying the calculations. OBJECTIVE: To develop a comprehensive set of daily energy requirements for infants and young children aged 0-24 mo meeting the ideals of worldwide applicability to all healthy children based on the use of the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique to measure total energy expenditure (TEE), the use of recent, international growth charts, and calculation of values across a wide range of body weight. METHODS: Daily estimated energy requirements (EERs) were calculated in 1-mo increments from 0 to 24 mo for boys, girls, and combined, using as inputs the following: 1) TEE measured using the DLW technique, 2) energy deposition estimates from the Institute of Medicine, and 3) body weight values from the 25th to 75th percentiles from the 2006 WHO growth charts. EERs were combined for age groups 0 to <6, 6-8, 9-11, and 12-24 mo by averaging EERs from individual months. The EER calculations were supported by a systematic literature review and a meta-regression of existing studies. RESULTS: Energy requirements naturally increase with age and are slightly higher in boys than in girls. The EERs derived in this study are similar to those in other recent international efforts. CONCLUSIONS: This updated set of EERs for infants and young children expand and improve upon the methodology used to establish previous published guidelines. These estimates have multiple potential uses including planning age-appropriate menus for the complementary feeding period, the development of foods that are more precisely targeted to the needs of infants and children at particular ages, and establishing macronutrient requirements within specific age groups based on a percentage of energy, such as dietary fat.

Effects of 2 physical exercise programs (circuit training and brisk walk) carried out during working hours on multidimensional components of workers' health: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of 2 physical exercise programs carried out during working hours in an office work environment on health-related parameters of employees. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The participants included 47 healthy office worker volunteers (aged 45±11.95 years, 27% males) who formed 3 groups: circuit training (CT), brisk walk (BW), and control (C) groups. The interventions lasted 12 weeks with a weekly frequency of three 30-minute sessions in the middle of the workday. All employees were evaluated with a multicomponent battery test which included: anthropometric and body composition measurements, a cardiorespiratory fitness test, lipid profile, blood pressure, and mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress). Basic descriptive statistics were calculated. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to summarize changes in the variables studied after the application of the physical exercise programs. RESULTS: Generally, both exercise programs (CT and BW) maintained the body weight and body mass index while reducing body fat mass (a group × time interaction; 4.864 ≤ F ≤ 6.524, 0.001 ≤ p ≤ 0.015), although the CT intervention also showed relevant (inter-group) reductions in the waist-hip ratio (F = 11.311, p = 0.007) and increased skeletal muscle mass (F = 15.062, p = 0.003). Both exercise programs (CT and BW) improved the cardiorespiratory fitness test scores (a group × time interaction; F = 18.054, p < 0.001). There were no changes in the lipid profile or blood pressure after the interventions, but there was an improvement in mental health (4.760 ≤ F ≤ 8.087, 0.008 ≤ p ≤ 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that both types of programs could be implemented in the employees' daily routine in order to improve their overall health. Nevertheless, studies with larger samples are necessary before the conclusions can be generalized. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(1):39-51.

Relationship between Anthropometric Parameters and Throwing Speed in Amateur Male Handball Players at Different Ages.

The objectives of this study were: (i) to analyse anthropometric parameters and throwing speed from seven meters in amateur male handball players of different ages; (ii) to know the relationship between anthropometric parameters and throwing. One hundred seventy-six male handball players (16.5 ± 5.1 years old) participated in the study, classified according to their age: senior (n = 35), U18 (n = 30), U16 (n = 37), U14 (n = 50) and U12 (n = 24). All participants were evaluated by anthropometric measurements (height, weight, body mass index, arm span, hand width) and throwing speed from 7 m standing. A one-way analysis of variance with a Bonferroni post hoc test was used to establish the differences between teams. Pearson's simple correlation coefficients were calculated between analyse anthropometric parameters and throwing speed. Multiple linear regression was used to predict the throwing speed. Only BMI was related with throwing speed in all age groups (0.506 > r < 0.813, p < 0.05). Throwing speed was predicted (24-72%) with only one or two variables in each model. The selected variables were: BMI, arm span in U16 model and height U14 model, and the BMI, arm span and height are proved to be good predictors of TS in male handball players.

Prediction of Handball Players' Performance on the Basis of Kinanthropometric Variables, Conditioning Abilities, and Handball Skills.

Handball (team handball) is a multifactorial sport. The aims of this study were (i) to analyse anthropometric variables, conditioning abilities, and handball skills in club handball players according to age and sex, and (ii) to develop multivariate models explaining club handball performance from a multidimensional perspective. Two hundred and twenty six handball players (age 16.9 ± 4.0 years, 54% males) participated in the study. The players belonged to under-14, under-16, under-19, and A teams. They were evaluated with a battery of 18 tests covering kinanthropometry, conditioning abilities, and handball skills. A one-way ANOVA with a Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to investigate differences between teams, and a t-test for differences between the sexes. For each team, a discriminant analysis was performed to determine differences between performance levels. The results showed little differences between the U19 and A teams in any of the variables studied in either men or women, and that the lowest values corresponded to the U14 team. The differences according to sex were clear in the kinanthropometric and conditioning variables, but much less so in handball skills. The eight multivariate models that were constructed classified successfully from 48.5 to 100% of the sample using at most three variables (except for the women's A team whose model selected six variables). Conditioning variables were most discriminating in men, and handball skills in women. This would seem to reflect the different performance profiles.

Harmonizing Micronutrient Intake Reference Ranges for Dietary Guidance and Menu Planning in Complementary Feeding.

There are no published harmonized nutrient reference values for the complementary feeding period. The aim of the study was to develop proposals on adequate and safe intake ranges of micronutrients that can be applied to dietary guidance and menu planning. Dietary intake surveys from 6 populous countries were selected as pertinent to the study and reviewed for data on micronutrients. The most frequently underconsumed micronutrients were identified as iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate. Key published reference values for these micronutrients were identified, compared, and reconciled. WHO/FAO values were generally identified as initial nutrient targets and reconciled with nutrient reference values from the Institute of Medicine and the European Food Standards Authority. A final set of harmonized reference nutrient intake ranges for the complementary feeding period is proposed.

Nutrition Education: Application of Theory and Strategies during the First 1,000 Days for Healthy Growth.

Healthy growth during the first 1,000 days, spanning from conception to age 24 months, represents a crucial period which influences the long-term physical and cognitive development of individuals. International public health recommendations and nutrition education interventions targeting early life focus on building individuals' capacities through a variety of educational strategies, accompanied by environmental support, with an ultimate goal being the voluntary adoption of food choices and other nutrition-related behaviors conducive to health and wellness of the expectant mother during pregnancy, parents and caregivers who have a role in feeding the infant, and the infant in later childhood and beyond. Nutrition education interventions that hold promise in the promotion of healthy infant growth are designed on the basis of applicable theory of health behavior, focus on multiple modifiable nutrition-related behaviors, and address various mediators, such as motivators and barriers relevant to acting on these modifiable behaviors. A limited number of randomized controlled trials have been published to date, with modest effect sizes, some of which show sustained benefits related to obesity prevention. Considerations related to intervention design, behavior change strategies, and scale-up efforts are needed to improve the efficacy of nutrition education strategies in early nutrition.

Psychological characteristics in women football players: Skills, mental toughness, and anxiety.

Women's football has been far less studied than men's. This work's objectives were to: (1) analyze the differences in psychological skills, mental toughness (MT), and anxiety in women football players according to their level (national team, first division, and second division); and (2) predict those three levels (using a multivariate model) according to the players' psychological skills, mental toughness, and anxiety. One hundred and forty-two Icelandic women football players (23.5 ± 3.5 years) participated in the study. They were classified into three groups according to their level: national team, and first and second divisions. Three questionnaires were used: the Test of Performance Strategies Questionnaire, the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire, and the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 questionnaire. A one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc correction was used to examine differences between teams. Applying a classification tree analysis, the participants were classified into three groups according to their level. There were few differences between the three groups in psychological skills, but in mental toughness and anxiety the national team had the highest and lowest values respectively, and the first and second division players differed in relaxation in competition (TOPS), total score and confidence (SMTQ), and worry (SAS-2). The classification tree correctly classified 54.9% of the sample with the variables total score (SMTQ) and activation in practice (TOPS). Therefore, given the relevance that psychological attributes appear to have for women football players' performance, it would seem indispensable to incorporate the figure of the sports psychologist into national and club teams.

Exercise, health outcomes, and pædiatric obesity: A systematic review of meta-analyses.

OBJECTIVES: This study is a systematic review of meta-analyses that have addressed the effects of exercise-based interventions alone and the health outcomes (anthropometric, body composition, cardiometabolic, hepatic, vascular, and cardiorespiratory fitness parameters) in overweight and obese children and adolescents. DESIGN: Systematic review of meta-analysis. METHODS: Six electronic sources were searched. The inclusion criteria were: children and/or adolescents classified as overweight or obese, and previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses that included exercise interventions compared to a control group. Standardized mean differences, risk of bias, heterogeneity, and small-study effects were calculated. Subgroup analyses (intervention characteristics) were done. RESULTS: Eighteen meta-analyses met the inclusion criteria. The results showed improvements in some anthropometric and body composition (body mass, BMI, BMI z-score, central obesity, fat mass) and cardiometabolic (TG, fasting glucose, fasting insulin) parameters, and in cardiorespiratory fitness. For the cardiometabolic and vascular parameters, aerobic programs and interventions showed themselves to be effective if they were of four to 12 weeks, or involved a total exercise time of at least 1500min, or involved sessions of at least 60min. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides indications of the appropriate dose of exercise with which to reduce health problems in the obese young population.