The effects of providing equipment for promoting physical activity in recess among Japanese elementary school children

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to examine the effects of providing equipment for use during school recess on elementary school children's physical activity. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 98 fifth-grade children (63 boys) from two elementary schools were assigned to an intervention group (n = 39) or a control group (n = 59). The intervention group received equipment such as volleyballs and oval balls. The children's physical activity was measured using accelerometry before and three months after receiving the equipment. Evaluated indicators were time spent engaging in sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity during break, lunch recess, and the entire school day. Analysis of covariance--with sex, body mass index, and physical activity level prior to receipt of the equipment as covariates--was performed to examine the differences between two groups with respect to physical activity after receiving the equipment. Results: During break, lunch recess, and the entire school day, data were collected from 23, 25, and 18 children in the intervention group. In the control group, it was done from 41, 42, and 37 children, respectively. During break and lunch recess, the intervention group was less likely to engage in sedentary behavior (p = 0.01, p Conclusion: The availability of equipment for use during recess was associated with high levels of physical activity.