Aim: To determine differences in physical activity level and functional fitness between young elderly (60–69 years) and old elderly (70–80 years) people with the hypothesis that an age-related decline would be found. Methods: A total of 1288 participants’ level of physical activity was evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire: 594 were male (mean ± standard deviation: body height 175.62 ± 9.78 cm; body weight 82.26 ± 31.33 kg) and 694 female (mean ± standard deviation: body height 165.17 ± 23.12 cm; body weight 69.74 ± 12.44 kg). Functional fitness was also estimated using the Senior Fitness Test: back scratch, chair sit and reach, 8-foot up and go, chair stand up for 30 seconds, arm curl, and 2-minute step test. Results: Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found for all Senior Fitness tests between young elderly (60–69 years) and old elderly (70–80) men. Similar results were found for the women, except no significant differences were found for the chair sit and reach and the 2-minute step test. From the viewpoint of energy consumption estimated by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, moderate physical activity is dominant. In addition, with aging, among men and women older than 60 years, the value of the Metabolic Equivalent of Task in total physical activity significantly reduces (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study found that the reduction in physical activity level and functional fitness was equal for both men and women and was due to the aging process. These differences between young and old elderly people were due to the reduction of muscle strength in both upper and lower limbs and changes in body-fat percentage, flexibility, agility, and endurance.

This study compared the effects of recreational football and high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) on body composition, muscular fitness, and cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese children. Forty‐two overweight/obese males aged 11‐13 years [body mass index (BMI) >20.5 kg/m²] were randomly assigned to a recreational football training group (n = 14; 157.9 ± 5.8 cm; 63.7 ± 12.6 kg), HIIT group (n = 14; 163.8 ± 9.4 cm; 71.5 ± 10.5 kg), or nontraining control group (n = 14; 162.7 ± 9.3 cm; 67.4 ± 16.1 kg). Physical fitness components were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of training at the same time of the day and under similar conditions, including body composition, muscular fitness (lower‐body power, change‐of‐direction speed, and flexibility), and cardiovascular fitness (Yo‐Yo Intermittent Endurance test distance, resting heart rate, and blood pressure). Lean body mass (4.3%, ES = 0.40; 95% CI: −0.48, 1.29; P = .382) and muscle mass 4.4% (ES = 0.40; 95% CI: −0.48, 1.29; P = .378) very likely increased in the recreational football group, while possible improvements were observed in the HIIT group (lean body mass: 2.5%, ES = 0.22; 95% CI: −0.62, 1.06; P = .607, muscle mass: 2.8%, ES = 0.23; 95% CI: −0.61, 1.07; P = .594). Only trivial increases were observed in the control group for lean body mass (0.5%, ES = 0.05; 95% CI: −0.70, 0.79; P = .906) and muscle mass (1.1%, ES = 0.09; 95% CI: −0.65, 0.83; P = .814). Significant differences were found between the recreational football and control groups in post‐training body mass (P = .034) and body mass index (P = .017). Body fat very likely decreased in the recreational football group (−7.7%, ES = −0.41; 95% CI: −1.29, 0.48; P = .376) and possibly decreased in the HIIT group (−5.2%, ES = −0.22; 95% CI: −1.05, 0.62; P = .607), with a trivial reduction in the control group (−1.1%, ES = −0.04; 95% CI: −0.78, 0.70; P = .914). Very likely increases in lower‐body power were evident in the recreational football (17.0%, ES = 0.76; 95% CI: −0.15, 1.66; P = .107) and control groups (16.1%, ES = 0.55; 95% CI: −0.20, 1.31; P = .156), while small improvements were observed in the HIIT group (6.0%, ES = 0.24; 95% CI: −0.60, 1.08; P = .580, possible). Likely to most likely improvements in Yo‐Yo Intermittent Endurance test performance and change‐of‐direction speed were noted in the recreational football group (Yo‐Yo: 79.8%, ES = 1.09; 95% CI: 0.16, 2.03; P = .025, change‐of‐direction speed: −10.6%, ES = −1.05; 95% CI: −1.98, −0.12; P = .031) and the HIIT group (Yo‐Yo: 81.2%, ES = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.15, 1.92; P = .025, change‐of‐direction speed: −5.4%, ES = −0.91; 95% CI: −1.79, −0.04; P = .045). Diastolic blood pressure likely decreased in the recreational football (−8.6%, ES = −0.74; 95% CI: −1.64, 0.17; P = .116) and HIIT groups (−9.8%, ES = −0.57; 95% CI: −1.40, 0.30; P = .195), with a possible increase in the control group (1.2%, ES = 0.21; 95% CI: −0.53, 0.96; P = .068). Recreational football and HIIT elicited improvements in all muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness measures. In contrast, the control group, which performed only physical education classes, increased body mass, BMI, and fat mass. Therefore, additional activities such as recreational football or HIIT might counter the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children.

Background: A previous meta-analysis showed that maximal oxygen uptake increased by 3.51 mL/kg/min (95% CI 3.07 to 4.15) during a recreational football programme of 3–6 months in comparison with continuous moderate-intensity running, strength training or a passive control group. In addition, narrative reviews have demonstrated beneficial effects of recreational football on physical fitness and health status.Objective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the magnitude of effects of recreational football on blood pressure, body composition, lipid profile and muscular fitness with reference to age, gender and health status.Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Data sources: MEDLINE, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Google Scholar were searched prior to 1 February 2017. In addition, Google Scholar alerts were set up in January 2012 to identify potential papers with the following key terms: recreational football, recreational soccer, street football and street soccer.Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: Randomised and matched controlled trials with participants allocated to a recreational football group or any other type of exercises or passive control group were included. Training programmes had to last at least 2 weeks to meet the inclusion criteria. The primary outcome measures were blood pressure, resting heart rate, body composition, muscular fitness, and blood lipids and glucose tolerance. A total of 31 papers met the inclusion criteria and were included.Results: The effect of recreational football on systolic blood pressure (SBP) versus no-exercise controls wasmost likely extremely largely beneficial(effect size (ES)=4.20 mm Hg; 95% CI 1.87 to 6.53). In addition,a most likely very large beneficial(ES=3.89 mm Hg; 95% CI 2.33 to 5.44) effect was observed for diastolic blood pressure (DBP), when compared with non-active groups. Furthermore, amost likely extremely large beneficialeffect was shown for SBP and DBP in participants with mild hypertension (11 and 7 mm Hg decrease, respectively) and participants with prehypertension (10 and 7 mm Hg decrease, respectively). Meta-analysis of recreational football determined the impact on resting heart rate asmost likely extremely largely beneficial(ES=6.03 beats/min; 95% CI 4.43 to 7.64) when compared with non-active groups. The observed recreational football effect on fat mass wasmost likely largely beneficial(ES=1.72 kg; 95% CI 0.86 to 2.58) and the effect on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance wasmost likely very largely beneficial(ES=2.27 cm; 95% CI 1.29 to 3.25) when compared with non-active groups.Possibly beneficialdecreases were found in low-density lipoprotein levels (ES=0.21 mmol/L; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.36).Possibly largely beneficialeffect was observed for DBP in comparison with continuous running training.Small harmfulandunclearresults were noted for SBP, fat and lean body mass, body mass index, as well as muscular fitness when compared with running and Zumba training.Conclusion: The present meta-analysis demonstrated multiple broad-spectrum benefits of recreational football on health-related physical fitness compared with no-exercise controls, including improvements in blood pressure, resting heart rate, fat mass, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and CMJ performance. Additionally, recreational football is efficient and effective as Zumba and continuous running exercise regimens with highlighted social, motivational and competitive components.