Abstract
This study explores the potential of a structured programme of daily physical activity to have a beneficial effect on students’ attitudes and body measurements. An action research study was conducted at a co-educational school with a sample of 21 students aged from 13 to 15years. It was carried out during the lunch period for 30 minutes or more each session over a six-week period for three days per week. The students were measured (height, weight, waist, hip, chest, BMI, and % body fat) at the beginning and at the end of the programme. They were also surveyed, at the beginning, on their then current patterns of engagement in physical activity and on their views on the importance of physical education in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. At the end of the programme, they were surveyed again on what they perceived as the benefits and disadvantages of the programme. In addition to the surveys, Observations and Field notes were used. Statistical Data Analysis was carried out using SPSS V.22. The significance of any changes over the course of the programme in weight, waist measurement, hip measurement, % body fat, or BMI was estimated using a Repeated Measures General Linear Model (GLM) analysis with sex as the independent variable and with the students’ initial heights and ages as covariates. There was no statistically significant difference in any of the biometric measurements, although there were downward trends in waist (for girls) and hip (for boys) measurements, BMI, and % body fat. Participants held positive views of the programme and of its benefits to them with 95% indicating that the programme should be repeated. The researchers’ observations and field notes supported the students reported positive responses since it was noted that students improved in fitness and enjoyed the activity throughout the programme.
Highlights
This study explores the potential of a structured programme of daily physical activity to have a beneficial effect on students’ attitudes and body measurements
The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of a daily structured Physical Activity Programme on students’ body weights and their attitudes to physical activity
They found that people who engaged in leisure-time physical activity had life expectancy gains of four or more years compared with those who were inactive [9]
Summary
This study explores the potential of a structured programme of daily physical activity to have a beneficial effect on students’ attitudes and body measurements. Personal observation has shown that students’ attitudes to physical education, especially the practical aspect, have changed and continue to deteriorate further as they become more interested in getting notes for examinations and less in practicing healthy habits, showing increasing evidence of sedentary lifestyles This change has negatively affected the level of participation in physical activity during school hours. Regular activity was found to be beneficial regardless of a person’s body weight, according to a study by a team of researchers who are a part of the National Institute of Health They found that people who engaged in leisure-time physical activity had life expectancy gains of four or more years compared with those who were inactive [9]. This could be achieved by 30 minutes of activity 5 days a week (something which is possible during school hours, incidentally)
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