Purpose:  It is well known that bone, fat and lean mass can be improved by high impact, high intensity exercise. The CAPO Kids trial was a brief, novel, bone- and fat-targeted exercise program that elicited benefits for bone, fat and physical performance in healthy pre- and peri-pubertal children (reported previously). The purpose of the current study was to determine if the effects of the trial were maintained twelve months after cessation of the program.

Methods:  Over the course of the whole trial, testing occurred at three time points; baseline (T1), intervention follow-up (T2) and final follow-up (T3). Measures included age of peak height velocity, weight, standing and sitting height, calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and stiffness index (SI) (Achilles, GE), waist circumference, resting heart rate, blood pressure, maximal vertical jump, and estimated maximal oxygen consumption. Between-group differences at each time point were determined by repeated measures ANCOVA, adjusting for change in anthropometrics, physical activity and calcium consumption.

Results: From 311 children of the original trial, 240 (77% of initial follow-up sample), were remeasured (12.3±0.6 yrs); 155 from the intervention (EX) and 85 controls (CON). EX and CON increased BUA (EX: 5.6%, p≤0.001; CON: 6.5%, p≤0.001), SI (EX: 7.3%, p≤0.001; CON: 5.2%, p≤0.001), vertical jump (EX: +5.9% vs. CON: +6.3%, p=0.054) and estimated VO₂ max (EX: 13.3% vs. CON: 12.1%; p=0.197), and reduced waist circumference (EX: -5.2%, p≤0.001; CON: -5.6%, p≤0.001) between T2 and T3 time points, with no between-group differences, reflecting normal growth and maintenance of exercise effects.

Conclusion: Twelve months after cessation of an in-school bone- and fat-targeted exercise program, bone, fat and physical performance benefits were sustained in pre-and peri-pubertal children. Findings suggest even short term exercise intervention during childhood may provide longer term benefits for the prevention of common chronic diseases.