Abstract
Background: This study examined the effects of a 4-week technology-enhanced physical activity (PA) interventions on students’ real-time daily PA and aerobic fitness levels. Methods: 116 fifth-graders were assigned to one intervention group (n = 31) participating in daily physical activity engaging the brain with Fitbit Challenge (PAEB-C), another intervention group (n = 29) wearing Fitbits only (Fitbit-O) daily, five days per week, or the comparison group (n = 56). Four-week real-time PA data were collected from the intervention students via Fitbase. Three groups were pre- and post-tested aerobic fitness. Results: The PAEB-C students showed significantly higher steps and minutes of being very active and fairly active (F = 7.999, p = 0.014, ŋ = 0.121; F = 5.667, p = 0.021, ŋ = 0.089; F = 10.572, p = 0.002, ŋ = 0.154) and lower minutes of being sedentary daily (F = 4.639, p = 0.035, ŋ = 0.074) than the Fitbit-O group. Both Fitbit groups exhibited significantly greater increases in aerobic fitness scores than the comparison group over time (F = 21.946, p = 0.001, ŋ = 0.303). Boys were more physically active and fit than girls. Conclusions: Technology-enhanced PA intervention was effective for improving real-time PA and aerobic fitness.
Highlights
To obtain physical and mental health benefits, children are recommended to participate in 60 or more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day, and to demonstrate a healthy level of aerobic fitness [1,2,3]
This study aimed to investigate the impact of the technology-enhanced classroom-based PA intervention on daily real-time PA levels and aerobic fitness levels
The PAEB-C group showed higher numbers of average daily real-time steps and higher average daily real-time minutes in very active (VA), fairly active (FA), and light active (LA) variables compared to the students in Fitbit-O group
Summary
To obtain physical and mental health benefits, children are recommended to participate in 60 or more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day, and to demonstrate a healthy level of aerobic fitness [1,2,3]. This study examined the effects of a 4-week technology-enhanced physical activity (PA) interventions on students’ real-time daily PA and aerobic fitness levels. Results: The PAEB-C students showed significantly higher steps and minutes of being very active and fairly active (F = 7.999, p = 0.014, η = 0.121; F = 5.667, p = 0.021, η = 0.089; F = 10.572, p = 0.002, η = 0.154) and lower minutes of being sedentary daily (F = 4.639, p = 0.035, η = 0.074) than the Fitbit-O group Both Fitbit groups exhibited significantly greater increases in aerobic fitness scores than the comparison group over time (F = 21.946, p = 0.001, η = 0.303). Conclusions: Technology-enhanced PA intervention was effective for improving real-time PA and aerobic fitness
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
