Calisthenics-Based Intervention in Adolescents: Effects on Strength, Body Composition, Eating Habits, and Self-Concept

NCT07584551 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: CALI-TEENSUniversitat de Lleida
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a school-based calisthenics intervention in promoting physical activity and improving health-related outcomes in adolescents. Physical inactivity during adolescence is a growing public health concern associated with increased risks of obesity, poor physical fitness, and reduced psychological well-being. Schools provide an optimal environment to implement structured interventions that encourage lifelong healthy habits. Calisthenics is a form of exercise that uses bodyweight movements to improve strength, flexibility, and coordination. It is cost-effective, accessible, and does not require specialized equipment, making it particularly suitable for school settings. The present study integrates a structured calisthenics program into regular physical education classes. A total of 100 students aged 13 to 16 years will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which will participate in the calisthenics program, or a control group, which will follow the standard physical education curriculum. The intervention will last 12 weeks, with three sessions per week. Primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention. These include physical fitness (muscle strength), body composition, dietary habits, and self-concept. Strength will be measured using a handgrip dynamometer, body composition through anthropometric assessment, dietary habits through a validated questionnaire, and self-concept using the Self-Concept Form-5 (AF5). Findings from this study will provide evidence regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing calisthenics in school settings as a strategy to improve both physical and psychological health in adolescents.

Conditions

Physical Activity; Strength; Body Composition; Self Concept

Keywords

Calisthenics; Adolescents; School-based intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Hand grip strenght

  Handgrip strength is assessed using a handheld dynamometer to evaluate muscular strength. Participants are instructed to squeeze the device with maximal effort, usually with the dominant hand, for a few seconds. The highest value from repeated trials is recorded in kilograms or newtons

  From enrollment to the end of the intervention at 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Percentage of body fat

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• Dietary habits

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• Self-concept

  From enrollment to the end to the treatment at 12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Calisthenics

EXPERIMENTAL

Calisthenics 12 week, 3 times per week, exercise program

Other: Calisthenics

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

School exercise programm

Other: Physical Activity School Education Program

Interventions

Calisthenics OTHER

12 week exercise program, with a frequency of 3 times per week and a duration of 1 hour per session

Calisthenics

Physical Activity School Education Program OTHER

Physical activity following School Education Program

Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years - 16 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Enrollment in the ninth grade at the Institución Educativa Técnica Industrial de Turmequé, Boyacá.
• Age between 13 and 16 years.
• Agreement to random group assignment.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of medical conditions or disorders that could contraindicate physical exercise, including but not limited to cardiac arrhythmias, heart murmurs, coronary artery disease, or hypertension, as diagnosed by a physician at the start of the calisthenics program.
• Presence of psychiatric disorders, such as severe anxiety attacks or depression, diagnosed by a qualified healthcare professional at the beginning of the calisthenics program.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universitat de Lleida: lead

Study Sites (1)

Institución Educativa Técnica Industrial de Turmequé-Boyacá

Turmequé, Departamento de Boyacá, 153060, Colombia

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Interventions

Gymnastics

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Jose CE Serrano, PhD

  Universitat de Lleida

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 29, 2026
• First Posted: May 13, 2026
• Study Start: January 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: September 15, 2025
• Study Completion: December 15, 2025
• Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, CSR
• Time Frame: January 2026 util January 2036
• Access Criteria: Upon request by e-mail

Locations

CO (1)