The effect of maternal cooperative supervision on physical fitness indices of overweight and obese girls in home-based exercise programs

Background: This research examined how maternal cooperative supervision influenced physical fitness indices in overweight or obese children enrolled in home-based exercise programs. Methods: This study employed a 6-week randomized controlled trial, enrolling a total of 210 children (age range = 10 to 12 years; body mass index (BMI) ≥ 85th percentile) acquired through a cluster sampling method from six distinct schools in Yasuj, Iran. The recruited children were randomly assigned to one of two equally sized groups (n = 105 per group): Passive maternal supervision (monitoring exercise adherence) or active maternal participation (joint exercise sessions). Outcome data were collected at three intervals: Pre-intervention (baseline), intra-intervention (weeks 3 and 6), and post-intervention. The evaluation of physical fitness was conducted using standardized tests (sit-and-reach, a 1-mile run, and push-up/pull-up). Concurrently, physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary behaviors were quantified through the International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ) and checklists completed by the mothers. The statistical analysis involved the application of paired t-tests for within-group comparisons and independent t-tests for between-group comparisons. The threshold for statistical significance was established at a p-value of less than 0.05. Results: The cooperative supervision group exhibited significantly greater improvements in several key fitness indices when compared to the control group, including flexibility (26.34 ± 5.2 cm versus 17.77 ± 5.2 cm), muscular strength (5 ± 2 pull-ups), endurance (4 ± 1 push-ups), and cardiorespiratory capacity (1.40-minute 1-mile run time) (all p < 0.05). Behaviorally, over 70% of the children successfully shifted from a sedentary to an active lifestyle. This change was supported by a reduction in daily screen time (2.5 ± 0.8 hours/day) and an increase in active commuting, where post-intervention walking rates doubled. It is noteworthy that at baseline, 77% of the participants presented with musculoskeletal abnormalities, with lumbar hyperlordosis being the predominant condition, a factor that influenced their initial PA engagement. Conclusion: The substantial role of maternal engagement in home-based exercise programs is evident in the marked improvements observed in the physical fitness of children classified as overweight or obese. This finding strongly supports the efficacy and necessity of adopting family-centered intervention models in pediatric weight management. For subsequent investigations, it is recommended to incorporate objective measures of PA and rigorously assess the long-term maintenance of these outcomes across varied demographic groups.