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Obesity, AdolescentNCT06377137

High-intensity Small-sided Soccer Games for Cardiometabolic Health in Adolescents With Metabolic Dysfunction

A study testing Small-sided soccer games groups (SSSG) and Traditional soccer training groups (TSG) in people with Obesity, Adolescent and Metabolic Syndrome, run by Universidade do Porto at 1 site in Portugal.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Pediatric obesity is considered one of the most important public health problems worldwide due to its high prevalence and associated comorbidities. Physical exercise has been shown to have an important role in the treatment of obesity and associated cardiometabolic dysfunction. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 11 to 15 years, men only
Conditions the study is for
Obesity, Adolescent, Metabolic Syndrome
What is being tested?
Small-sided soccer games groups (SSSG) and Traditional soccer training groups (TSG)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
51 participants
Where
1 sitePortugal
Study dates
10 Mar 2023to 1 Sep 2023
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 11 to 15 years
  • Men only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Age between 11-15 years at the time of intervention start
  • Overweight or obesity (BMI> 85th percentile)
  • Abdominal obesity ≥90th percentile as assessed by waist circumference or a waist-to- height ratio ≥ 0.5
  • Willing to participate in the study regardless of possible group allocation
  • Informed consent given by participant and legal representatives

Who cannot join

  • Health condition not compatible with participation in physical exercise
  • History of recent musculoskeletal injury hindering exercise participation
  • Concurrent participation in a structured weight loss or exercise program

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Portugal1 site
  • Faculty of Sport of the University of Porto

    Porto, 4200-450

Other trials in Portugal

About this study

Official title: High Intensity Training Based on Small-sided Soccer Games for Health: Effects on Cardiometabolic Health, Motor Performance and Adherence to 24-hour Movement Guidelines in Adolescents With Overweight and Metabolic Dysfunction

Pediatric obesity is considered one of the most important public health problems worldwide due to its high prevalence and associated comorbidities. Physical exercise has been shown to have an important role in the treatment of obesity and associated cardiometabolic dysfunction. Small-sided soccer games (SSSG) have been explored as a promising way of increasing physical exercise due to its benefits on cardiometabolic health and high degree of enjoyment, which favors long-term adherence.

The objective of this research is to determine the effects of a 16-week high-intensity SSSG-based exercise intervention on cardiometabolic risk factors, physical fitness, adherence to 24-hour movement patterns, enjoyment and adherence to the intervention in adolescents with metabolic dysfunction and compare them to the effects of a traditional soccer intervention.

Read more

The investigators hypothesize that high-intensity SSSG are more effective in improving the obesity-related cardiometabolic risk profile in adolescents with cardiometabolic dysfunction compared to traditional soccer training.

A parallel 3-arm randomized controlled trial will be conducted in adolescents with overweight and metabolic dysfunction between 11 and 15 years of age. The inclusion criteria are: (i) age between 11-15 years at the time of intervention start; (ii) overweight or obesity (BMI> 85th percentile); (iii) Abdominal obesity ≥90th percentile as assessed by waist circumference or a waist-to-height ratio ≥ 0.5; (iv) willing to participate in the study regardless of possible group allocation; (v) informed consent given by participant and legal representatives. Exclusion criteria: (i) health condition not compatible with participation in physical exercise; (ii) history of recent musculoskeletal injury hindering exercise participation; (iii) concurrent participation in a structured weight loss or exercise program.

Those eligible to participate in the study will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: i) SSSG group, ii) traditional soccer play group (TSG), or, iii) non-exercise intervention control group (CG). Participants in both exercise intervention groups will undergo a 16-week intervention. The SSSG group will participate in a high-intensity small-sided soccer games training, while the TSG will undergo a technical and tactical skills training program and traditional soccer training. The CG participants will continue with regular school physical education classes without any additional intervention. Before and after the intervention, all participants will be assessed for cardiometabolic and hepatic biochemical markers, physical fitness, anthropometry and body composition, blood pressure, objective daily physical activity and sleep quality, and perceived enjoyment of participation in SSSG and TSG. The primary outcomes of the study will be waist circumference and cardiorespiratory fitness.

The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Sport of the University of Porto and by the Scientific Ethics Committee of the Adventist University of Chile.

Being tested
Small-sided soccer games groups (SSSG), Traditional soccer training groups (TSG)
Medical subject headings
Pediatric Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Small-sided soccer games groups (SSSG)Behavioural

    Physical exercise intervention

  • Traditional soccer training groups (TSG)Behavioural

    Physical exercise intervention

Study groups in NCT06377137
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Small-sided soccer games groups (SSSG)ExperimentalSSSG will perform 16 weeks of training, 3 sessions/week, and ~55 minutes/session. Each session will begin with a 15-minute warm-up, 32 minutes of principal activity, and 5 minutes of cool down. The SSSG will consist of a program based on high-intensity SSSG. The training protocol is based on a pilot study conducted to characterize the exertion profile. The SSSG will be performed in a fractional regimen of 8 sets of 4 minutes and 2 minutes rest. The format of the SSGs will be 3v3, although they can be adapted to 2v2 or 4v4 when necessary. In addition, it will take place in a playing area of 9 x 18 meters equivalent to 27 square meters per player. To encourage high intensity, the following will be used (i) man-to-man marking; (ii) to score a goal, the entire team must be in the opponent's half of the field; (iii) balls will be available to reduce stoppages in play; (iv) the coach will motivate the team to maintain high intensity.
Receives: Behavioral: Small-sided soccer games groups (SSSG)
Traditional soccer training groups (TSG)ExperimentalSSSG will perform 16 weeks of training, 3 sessions/week, and ~55 minutes/session. Each session will begin with a 15-minute warm-up, 32 minutes of principal activity, and 5 minutes of cool down. The TSG group will base its training on 30 minutes of technical exercises with the ball individually or in pairs (dribbling, shooting and passing), ending with 10 minutes of a match organized according to the original characteristics of an indoor soccer game.
Receives: Behavioral: Traditional soccer training groups (TSG)
Control Group (CG)No interventionCG will perform only regular school physical education classes without any additional intervention

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Waist circumference

    Anthropometric measurement of abdominal obesity; cm

    Measured: 16 weeks

  2. Cardiorespiratory fitness

    1-mile walk/run test; minutes to run 1 mile

    Measured: 16 weeks

Secondary outcomes (21)
  1. Variation in fasting blood glucose concentration (mg/dL)

    Variation in fasting blood glucose concentration after 16 weeks of intervention.

    Blood samples will be obtained from each subject early in the morning by venipuncture from the antecubital vein, following a 10-h overnight fast.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  2. Variation in serum insulin concentration (mU/L)

    Variation in serum insulin concentration after 16 weeks of intervention.

    Blood samples will be obtained from each subject early in the morning by venipuncture from the antecubital vein, following a 10-h overnight fast.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  3. Variation in HOMA-IR

    Variation in HOMA-IR after 16 weeks of intervention.

    Blood samples will be obtained from each subject early in the morning by venipuncture from the antecubital vein, following a 10-h overnight fast.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  4. Variation in glycosylated hemoglobin concentration (mg/dL)

    Variation in Glycosylated hemoglobin concentration after 16 weeks of intervention.

    Blood samples will be obtained from each subject early in the morning by venipuncture from the antecubital vein, following a 10-h overnight fast.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  5. Variation in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (mg/dL)

    Variation in High-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration after 16 weeks of intervention.

    Blood samples will be obtained from each subject early in the morning by venipuncture from the antecubital vein, following a 10-h overnight fast.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  6. Variation in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (mg/dL)

    Variation in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration after 16 weeks of intervention.

    Blood samples will be obtained from each subject early in the morning by venipuncture from the antecubital vein, following a 10-h overnight fast.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  7. Variation in total cholesterol concentration (mg/dL)

    Variation in total cholesterol concentration after 16 weeks of intervention.

    Blood samples will be obtained from each subject early in the morning by venipuncture from the antecubital vein, following a 10-h overnight fast.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  8. Variation in blood triglycerides concentration (mg/dL)

    Variation in blood triglycerides concentration after 16 weeks of intervention.

    Blood samples will be obtained from each subject early in the morning by venipuncture from the antecubital vein, following a 10-h overnight fast.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  9. Variation in blood Alanine aminotransferase concentration (U/L)

    Variation in blood Alanine aminotransferase concentration after 16 weeks of intervention.

    Blood samples will be obtained from each subject early in the morning by venipuncture from the antecubital vein, following a 10-h overnight fast.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  10. Variation in blood Aspartate aminotransferase concentration (U/L)

    Variation in blood Aspartate aminotransferase concentration after 16 weeks of intervention.

    Blood samples will be obtained from each subject early in the morning by venipuncture from the antecubital vein, following a 10-h overnight fast.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  11. Variation in blood Gamma glutamyl transferase concentration (U/L)

    Variation in blood Gamma glutamyl transferase concentration after 16 weeks of intervention.

    Blood samples will be obtained from each subject early in the morning by venipuncture from the antecubital vein, following a 10-h overnight fast.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  12. 6-minute walk test

    Distance covered walking in 6 minutes.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  13. Hand grip strength

    Hand grip strength test measured with a digital hand dynamometer

    Measured: 16 weeks

  14. Lower limb strength

    Assessed by Horizontal jump test.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  15. Body composition

    Assessed by the electrical bioimpedance method

    Measured: 16 weeks

  16. Body mass index

    Weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m^2

    Measured: 16 weeks

  17. Neck circumference

    Assessed by anthropometric techniques

    Measured: 16 weeks

  18. Blood Pressure (mmHg)

    Systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured with digital sphygmomanometer

    Measured: 16 weeks

  19. Physical activity

    Physical activity will be assessed objectively with a triaxial accelerometer used 24h/d during 7 consecutive days.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  20. Sleep quality

    Sleep quality will be assessed objectively with a triaxial accelerometer used 24h/d during 7 consecutive days.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  21. Perceived enjoyment of physical activity

    Assessed by the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale questionnaire (PACES). Raw scores are transformed into a scale from 16 to 80. Higher scores correspond to higher perceived enjoyment.

    Measured: 16 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Apr 2024
  2. Study start10 Mar 2023
  3. Primary completion10 Apr 2023
  4. Study completion1 Sep 2023

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
51 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06377137
Sponsor's protocol ID
University of the Porto
Status last verified
Apr 2024
First submitted
1 Apr 2024
Last updated
22 Apr 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Gomez-Alvarez N, Hermosilla-Palma F, Reyes-Amigo T, Diaz-Alvarado M, Luarte-Rocha C, Espinoza-Puelles JP, Zapata-Lamana R, Cristi-Montero C, Oliveira J, Fonseca H. Effectiveness of High-Intensity Small-Sided Soccer Games Versus Traditional Soccer Training on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health Outcomes in Adolescents With Increased Metabolic Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Transl Sports Med. 2026 May 13;2026:1078783. doi: 10.1155/tsm2/1078783. eCollection 2026.

    PubMed 42137406

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Small-sided soccer games groups (SSSG) and Traditional soccer training groups (TSG) in people with Obesity, Adolescent and Metabolic Syndrome, run by Universidade do Porto at 1 site in Portugal.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Apr 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Portugal. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Waist circumference (time frame: 16 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06377137, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Apr 2024.

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