-
1.
Effect of a Scalable School-Based Intervention on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.
Lonsdale, C, Sanders, T, Parker, P, Noetel, M, Hartwig, T, Vasconcellos, D, Lee, J, Antczak, D, Kirwan, M, Morgan, P, et al
JAMA pediatrics. 2021;(7):680-688
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Cardiorespiratory fitness is an important marker of childhood health and low fitness levels are a risk factor for disease later in life. Levels of children's fitness have declined in recent decades. Whether school-based physical activity interventions can increase fitness at the population level remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of an internet-based intervention on children's cardiorespiratory fitness across a large number of schools. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this cluster randomized clinical trial, 22 government-funded elementary schools (from 137 providing consent) including 1188 students stratified from grades 3 and 4 in New South Wales, Australia, were randomized. The other schools received the intervention but were not included in the analysis. Eleven schools received the internet-based intervention and 11 received the control intervention. Recruitment and baseline testing began in 2016 and ended in 2017. Research assistants, blinded to treatment allocation, completed follow-up outcome assessments at 12 and 24 months. Data were analyzed from July to August 2020. INTERVENTIONS The internet-based intervention included standardized online learning for teachers and minimal in-person support from a project mentor (9-10 months). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Multistage 20-m shuttle run test for cardiorespiratory fitness. RESULTS Of 1219 participants (49% girls; mean [SD] age, 8.85 [0.71] years) from 22 schools, 1188 students provided baseline primary outcome data. At 12 months, the number of 20-m shuttle runs increased by 3.32 laps (95% CI, 2.44-4.20 laps) in the intervention schools and 2.11 laps (95% CI, 1.38-2.85 laps) in the control schools (adjusted difference = 1.20 laps; 95% CI, 0.17-2.24 laps). By 24 months, the adjusted difference was 2.22 laps (95% CI, 0.89-3.55 laps). The cost per student was AUD33 (USD26). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this study, a school-based intervention improved children's cardiorespiratory fitness when delivered in a large number of schools. The low cost and sustained effect over 24 months of the intervention suggests that it may have potential to be scaled at the population level. TRIAL REGISTRATION http://anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12616000731493.
-
2.
Physical Activity Levels of Chilean Children in a National School Intervention Programme. A Quasi-Experimental Study.
Rodríguez-Rodríguez, F, Cristi-Montero, C, Castro-Piñero, J
International journal of environmental research and public health. 2020;(12)
Abstract
Background. Recess is a great opportunity to interrupt sedentary behaviour and increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in schoolchildren. This quasi-experimental study aimed to compare the levels of physical activity (PA) during the school day of children in a school intervention programme vs. those in a control group, and to determine compliance with MVPA recommendations. Methods. A sample of 154 schoolchildren (6-12 years old) was obtained from several schools (70 with the intervention and 84 controls). This programme was structured with a duration of 90 min/session and performed three times/week. PA levels were recorded with triaxial accelerometers during the school day: during recess, during a PA session or physical education session (PE), and during lunchtime. No pre-intervention evaluation was performed. Results. The MVPA of the control group was higher than that of the intervention group during the first recess (p < 0.001). None of the groups complied with the recommendations for steps during the PA or PE sessions. During the PA session, sedentary time was lower and MVPA was higher, in the intervention group than in the control group. Fifty percent of the children from the intervention group complied with the MVPA recommendations, vs. 22.7% of those in the control group. Conclusions. The schoolchildren in the intervention group performed more MVPA than those in the control group. Future interventions could include other periods, such as recess and lunchtime, which are opportunities for improving the MVPA levels of schoolchildren.
-
3.
Are school-based physical activity interventions effective and equitable? A meta-analysis of cluster randomized controlled trials with accelerometer-assessed activity.
Love, R, Adams, J, van Sluijs, EMF
Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2019;(6):859-870
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing at epidemic rates globally, with widening inequalities between advantaged and disadvantaged groups. Despite the promise of schools as a universal context to access and influence all children, the potential of school-based interventions to positively impact children's physical activity behaviour, and obesity risk, remains uncertain. We searched six electronic databases to February 2017 for cluster randomized trials of school-based physical activity interventions. Following data extraction, authors were sent re-analysis requests. For each trial, a mean change score from baseline to follow-up was calculated for daily minutes of accelerometer-assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), for the main effect, by gender, and by socio-economic position (SEP). Twenty-five trials met the inclusion criteria; 17 trials provided relevant data for inclusion in the meta-analyses. The pooled main effect for daily minutes of MVPA was nonexistent and nonsignificant. There was no evidence of differential effectiveness by gender or SEP. This review provides the strongest evidence to date that current school-based efforts do not positively impact young people's physical activity across the full day, with no difference in effect across gender and SEP. Further assessment and maximization of implementation fidelity is required before it can be concluded that these interventions have no contribution to make.
-
4.
Food intake and appetite following school-based high-intensity interval training in 9-11-year-old children.
Morris, A, Cramb, R, Dodd-Reynolds, CJ
Journal of sports sciences. 2018;(3):286-292
Abstract
Using a randomised cross-over design, free-living lunch intake and subjective appetite were examined in 10 children (9.8 ± 0.6 years) following high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus a control sedentary (SED) period, within a school setting. The 22-min HIIT took place during a regular PE lesson and consisted of two rounds of 4 × 30 s sprints. Foods were offered at a regular school lunch immediately following HIIT and SED and were matched between conditions. All food was covertly weighed before and after the meal. Hunger, fullness and prospective consumption were reported immediately before and after HIIT/SED, using visual analogue scales. Heart rate was higher during HIIT than SED (159.3 ± 23.1 vs. 76.9 ± 2.2 bpm, P < 0.05). Lunch energy intake was not different (P = 0.52) following HIIT, compared to SED (2.06 ± 0.35 vs. 2.09 ± 0.29 MJ, respectively). There were no significant differences in macronutrient intake or subjective appetite (P > 0.05). Results suggest that HIIT can be implemented in a PE lesson immediately before lunch, without causing a compensatory increase in food consumption.
-
5.
Effects of an exercise program on hepatic metabolism, hepatic fat, and cardiovascular health in overweight/obese adolescents from Bogotá, Colombia (the HEPAFIT study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
González-Ruíz, K, Correa-Bautista, JE, Izquierdo, M, García-Hermoso, A, Dominguez-Sanchez, MA, Bustos-Cruz, RH, García-Prieto, JC, Martínez-Vizcaíno, V, Lobelo, F, González-Jiménez, E, et al
Trials. 2018;(1):330
Abstract
BACKGROUND A considerable proportion of contemporary youth have a high risk of obesity-related disorders such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although there is consistent evidence for the positive effects of physical activity on several health aspects, most adolescents in Colombia are sedentary. It is, therefore, important to implement strategies that generate changes in lifestyle. The HEPAFIT study aims to examine whether a 6-month exercise program has benefits for hepatic fat content and cardiovascular health outcomes among overweight/obese adolescents from Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS/DESIGN Altogether, 100 hundred overweight/obese, sedentary adolescents (aged 11-17 years) attending two public schools in Bogotá, Colombia, will be included in a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Adolescents will be randomly assigned to an intervention group following one of four curricula: (1) the standard physical education curriculum (60 min per week of physical activity, n = 25) at low-to-moderate intensity; (2) a high-intensity physical education curriculum (HIPE, n = 25), consisting of endurance and resistance games and non-competitive activities, such as running, gymkhanas, lifting, pushing, wrestling, or hauling, for 60-min sessions, three times per week, with an energy expenditure goal of 300 to 500 kcal/session at 75-85% maximum heart rate (HRmax); (3) a low-to-moderate intensity physical education curriculum (LIPE, n = 25) consisting of endurance and resistance games and non-competitive activities (e.g., chasing, sprinting, dribbling, or hopping) for 60-min sessions, three times per week with an energy expenditure goal of 300 kcal/session at 55-75% HRmax; and (4) a combined HIPE and LIPE curriculum (n = 25). The HIPE, LIPE, and combined interventions were performed in addition to the standard physical education curriculum. The primary outcome for effectiveness is liver fat content, as measured by the controlled attenuation parameter 1 week after the end of the intervention program. DISCUSSION The translational focus may be suitable for collecting new information in a school setting on the possible effects of physical activity interventions to reduce liver fat content and to improve metabolic profiles and the cardiometabolic health of overweight/obese adolescents. This may lead to the more efficient use of school physical education resources. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02753231 . Registered on 21 April 2016.
-
6.
Systematic Review of Physical Education-Based Physical Activity Interventions Among Elementary School Children.
Errisuriz, VL, Golaszewski, NM, Born, K, Bartholomew, JB
The journal of primary prevention. 2018;(3):303-327
Abstract
Physical education (PE)-based interventions are a popular method to target children's physical activity (PA) and fitness; however, little is known about their effectiveness or what factors lead to successful interventions. This paper: (1) systematically reviews studies examining PE interventions designed to impact PA, fitness, and/or body composition; and (2) makes recommendations for new research directions based upon these findings. Our systematic review was limited to experimental and quasi-experimental studies conducted in elementary schools. We conducted literature searches using predetermined keywords in 3 databases, identified a total of 4964 potentially relevant studies, and screened their abstracts and full texts for eligibility. This resulted in 12 relevant studies. We used criteria established by Downs and Black (1998) to assess each study's methodological quality. PE interventions consistently showed increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA or vigorous PA during PE class but were less consistent in impacting leisure-time PA. PE interventions affected body composition differentially, depending on the assessment used (i.e., body mass index or skinfold thickness). Half of the studies assessing fitness did not show a significant impact; however, those that did were designed to influence fitness outcomes. Few studies assessed psychosocial determinants regarding PA, and no study demonstrated significant impacts on constructs other than knowledge. Interventions often contained multiple components (e.g., diet, family) implemented alongside PE interventions. Identifying effective intervention components was difficult due to lack of process evaluation. We identify the need for future research to use more objective and accurate PA measurements and adiposity, incorporate measurement of psychological constructs, expand interventions' theoretical basis, and include strong process evaluation.
-
7.
Partnerships for Active Children in Elementary Schools: Outcomes of a 2-Year Pilot Study to Increase Physical Activity During the School Day.
Weaver, RG, Webster, CA, Egan, C, Campos, CMC, Michael, RD, Vazou, S
American journal of health promotion : AJHP. 2018;(3):621-630
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the impact of the pilot study Partnerships for Active Children in Elementary Schools on the percentage of children achieving the Institute of Medicine guideline of 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during the school day. DESIGN Pre/multiple post-quasi-experimental. SETTING Four elementary schools. PARTICIPANTS Physical education (n = 3) and classroom teachers (n = 12) and students (n = 229). INTERVENTION Partnerships for Active Children in Elementary Schools was a multicomponent, theory-driven intervention facilitated through school-university partnerships. Intervention approaches included communities of practice, community-based participatory research, and service learning. MEASURES Accelerometer-derived percentage of children accumulating 30 minutes of MVPA during the school day. ANALYSIS Multilevel mixed-effects regression estimated MVPA differences over time. RESULTS Compared to control, a 2.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.0% to 4.8%) and 8.8% (95% CI: -0.3% to 15.4%) increase in the percentage of time girls and boys engaged in MVPA during the school day was observed. The percentage of boys and girls in the intervention group achieving 30 minutes of MVPA/day increased from 57.5% to 70.7% and 35.4% to 56.9%, respectively. Boys and girls in the control group decreased from 61.5% to 56.4% and 52.6% to 41.9%, respectively. However, these changes did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION Partnerships for Active Children in Elementary Schools demonstrated meaningful impact on children's MVPA during the school day by increasing boys' and girls' MVPA. However, additional strategies may be required to help schools achieve the Institute of Medicine guideline.
-
8.
School-Based Exercise Programs and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Meta-analysis.
Pozuelo-Carrascosa, DP, Cavero-Redondo, I, Herráiz-Adillo, Á, Díez-Fernández, A, Sánchez-López, M, Martínez-Vizcaíno, V
Pediatrics. 2018;(5)
Abstract
CONTEXT The effects of school-based physical activity (PA) programs on different cardiometabolic risk factors and the most appropriate features of PA programs to achieve maximum effectiveness are unclear. OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive synthesis of the effectiveness of school-based PA interventions on cardiometabolic risk factors in children. DATA SOURCES We identified studies from database inception to February 22, 2018. STUDY SELECTION We selected studies that were focused on examining the effect of school-based PA interventions on cardiometabolic risk factors in children. DATA EXTRACTION Random-effects models were used to calculate the pooled effect size (ES) for the included cardiometabolic risk factors (waist circumference [WC], triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and fasting insulin and glucose). RESULTS Nineteen randomized controlled trials (which included 11 988 children aged 3-12 years) were included in the meta-analysis. School-based PA programs were associated with a significant small improvement in WC (ES = -0.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.22 to -0.07; P < .001), DBP (ES = -0.21; 95% CI: -0.42 to -0.01; P = .040), and fasting insulin (ES = -0.12; 95% CI: -0.20 to -0.04; P = .003). LIMITATIONS Authors of few studies described the implementation conditions of their interventions in detail, and compliance rates were lacking in most studies. In addition, results by sex were provided in a small number of studies. CONCLUSIONS School-based PA interventions improve some cardiometabolic risk factors in children, such as WC, DBP, and fasting insulin.
-
9.
Strength exercises during physical education classes in secondary schools improve body composition: a cluster randomized controlled trial.
Ten Hoor, GA, Rutten, GM, Van Breukelen, GJP, Kok, G, Ruiter, RAC, Meijer, K, Kremers, SPJ, Feron, FJM, Crutzen, R, Schols, AMJW, et al
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity. 2018;(1):92
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic health in people with obesity is determined by body composition. In this study, we examined the influence of a combined strength exercise and motivational programme -embedded in the school curriculum- on adolescents body composition and daily physical activity. METHODS A total of 695 adolescents (11-15y) from nine Dutch secondary schools participated in a one year cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT). In the intervention schools, physical education teachers were instructed to spend 15-30 min of all physical education lessons (2× per week) on strength exercises. Monthly motivational lessons were given to stimulate students to be more physically active. Control schools followed their usual curriculum. The primary outcome measure was body composition assessed by the deuterium dilution technique. Daily physical activity and sedentary behaviour measured by accelerometry served as a secondary outcome. RESULTS After 1 year, a 1.6% fat mass difference was found in favour of the intervention group (p = .007). This reflected a 0.9 kg difference in fat free mass (intervention>control; p = .041) and 0.7 kg difference in fat mass (intervention CONCLUSION In 11-15 year olds, the combination of strength exercises plus motivational lessons contributed to an improvement in body composition and a smaller decrease in physical activity level. TRIAL REGISTRATION ID ( NTR5676 - retrospectively registered 8 February 2016; enrolment of first participant: 2 March 2015).
-
10.
Improving Physical Fitness and Cognitive Functions in Middle School Students: Study Protocol for the Chinese Childhood Health, Activity and Motor Performance Study (Chinese CHAMPS).
Zhou, Z, Dong, S, Yin, J, Fu, Q, Ren, H, Yin, Z
International journal of environmental research and public health. 2018;(5)
Abstract
Background: Sedentary lifestyles and their associated harmful consequences are public health concerns that impact more than half of the world's youth population in both developed and developing countries. Methods: The Chinese Childhood Health; Activity and Motor Performance Study (Chinese CHAMPS) was a cluster randomized controlled trial to modify school physical activity policies and the physical education (PE) curriculum; using teacher training and parent engagement to increase opportunities and support students' physical activity and healthy eating. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, the study tested the incremental effects of increasing the amount and intensity of physical activity, alongside adding support for healthy eating, on health-related and cognitive function outcomes in Chinese middle school students. Results: The intervention was implemented by PE teachers in 12 middle schools in three Chinese cities, with a targeted enrollment of 650 students from August 2015⁻June 2016. The assessment of the outcomes involved a test battery of physical fitness and cognitive functioning at both baseline and at the end of the intervention. Process information on implementation was also collected. Discussion: The Chinese CHAMPS is a multi-level intervention that is designed to test the influences of policy and environmental modifications on the physical activity and eating behaviors of middle school students. It also addresses some key weaknesses in school-based physical activity interventions.