Introduction:

In Bogotá, there is a prevalence of overweight and obesity of 16% and 6%, respectively, in both school children and adolescents 1. In 2013, the 40X40 program (P40X40) was implemented by city educational institutions (IED, by its acronym in Spanish) in order to increase levels of physical activity in school children.

Objective:

This study aims to determine the effect of P40x40 in body composition of overweight and obese school children at public schools in Bogotá.

Materials and methods:

Non-randomized controlled study involving 1 003 school children (age 6 to 17) assigned to an intervention group (IG) (P40X40) (n=497) and a control group (CG) (n=506). The effect of the P40X40 intervention was assessed at two months in relation to body fat percentage (BFP), body mass index (BMI) and body mass index Zscore (BMIZscore).

Results:

Significant changes in IG for all variables (p=0.00) were presented, with greater reduction in BFP for time sports and mean difference (DaMs, for its acronym in Spanish) (DaMs = 1.36).

Conclusions:

After observing significant changes in the IG for all variables (p=0.00) with no clinical relevance, it was determined that the P40X40 requires changes in intensity, frequency and duration if the goal is to reduce levels of overweight and obesity in school children.

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