The impact of recreational beach tennis associated with nutritional counseling on cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether combining nutritional counseling with recreational sports confers greater improvements in cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents compared to recreational sports alone.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

This 12-week randomized clinical trial included 40 adolescents (aged 11-14 years; 67% female; 45% overweight/obese) randomly assigned to a beach tennis (BT, n = 20) or BT plus nutrition counseling (BT+N, n = 20) group. Sports sessions (BT) were performed twice a week and nutritional counseling (BT+N) once a week. Outcomes assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks included biochemical parameters (high- and low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol; triglycerides; fasting glucose; and insulin), blood pressure, and body composition. Analyses were performed following the intention-to-treat principle.

RESULTS

Both groups showed significantly higher high-density lipoprotein levels (BT: +3.8 mg/dL, p < 0.05; BT+N: +5.9 mg/dL, p < 0.001) and no differences between groups. Fasting glucose decreased only in the BT+N group. Time x group interactions significantly differed between groups for triglycerides (p < 0.01), waist circumference (p < 0.001), body fat percentage (p < 0.05), and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), favoring the BT+N group. No significant changes were observed in low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, or insulin levels.

CONCLUSION

Recreational BT alone improved some cardiometabolic parameters; however, its combination with nutritional counseling provided broader benefits, underscoring the value of integrated lifestyle interventions for reducing cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents.