Effects of Recreational Football on Body Composition, Cardiometabolic Health, and Functional Performance in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Yanzhao Lei¹Bo Wang²Hengzhi Deng³Mingyue Yin⁴Kai Xu^4,5Hengxian Liu⁴Meiling Tao⁴Yanfeng Li⁶Yilin Zhang⁷Yuhang Liu⁸Fanhao Meng⁹Hansen Li¹⁰Xing Zhang¹¹Bitai Wu¹²Yanmei Ding^13*

• ¹Shanghai Sipo Polytechnic, Shanghai, China
• ²College of Physical Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
• ³Universiti Malaya, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• ⁴Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
• ⁵Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
• ⁶Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China
• ⁷Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, China
• ⁸Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Killeen, United States
• ⁹Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
• ¹⁰Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
• ¹¹Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
• ¹²Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha, China
• ¹³Shanghai Civil Aviation College, Shanghai, China

Purpose: The systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of recreational football on body composition, cardiometabolic health, and functional performance in children and adolescents. Additionally, it explored potential moderators through subgroup analyses. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in six databases in May 2025. A random-effects model was employed for the meta-analysis, and effect sizes were reported as standardized mean differences (SMD, Hedges' g). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine sources of heterogeneity. Results: A total of 20 studies (N = 2,906; age range: 8–17 years) were included. Of the participants, 1,524 (52.44%) were male, 1,174 (40.40%) were female, and 208 (7.16%) did not clearly report their gender. Recreational football significantly reduced BMI (SMD = −0.13 [-0.24, -0.02]), body fat percentage (SMD = −0.37 [-0.63, -0.11]), and waist circumference (SMD = −1.38 [-2.65, -0.11]), with a slight increase in lean mass (SMD = 0.13 [0.02, 0.24]). It also reduced mean arterial pressure (SMD = −1.06 [-2.03, -0.10]), systolic blood pressure (SMD = −0.71 [-1.19, -0.23]), and triglycerides (SMD = −0.95 [-1.74, -0.15]), while having no effect on diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, VO₂peak, blood glucose, or cholesterol. Additionally, it improved interval endurance (SMD = 0.15 [0.04, 0.25]), sprint speed (SMD = −0.72 [-1.22, -0.22]), standing long jump (SMD = 0.53 [0.10, 0.97]), and balance (SMD = 0.84 [0.21, 1.46]), but had no effect on vertical jump. Subgroup analyses showed greater reductions in BMI (g = −0.54) and body weight (g = −0.89) in overweight/obese individuals, and significant weight improvement in adolescents >12 years (g = −1.35). Longer interventions (≥12 weeks) and higher frequencies (>2 sessions/week) were associated with greater body fat reduction (g = −0.82 and g = −0.74), with reductions in resting heart rate observed mainly in interventions ≥12 weeks (g = −0.72). According to the GRADE assessment, the overall quality of evidence was rated as low to very low. Conclusion: Recreational football is efficacious in improving body composition, select cardiometabolic risk factors, and physical performance in children and adolescents, especially individuals classified as overweight or obese.