Abstract
Only 21% of U.S. children meet federal physical activity (PA) guidelines. Schools have insufficient time for physical education classes. School children typically have recess daily, making recess a venue to increase PA. Programs such as Wellness In the Schools (WITS) provide a coach during school recess to lead organized activities and encourage all students to participate may provide students with health, psychological, academic and social benefits. This study was a quasi-experimental matched-control design with seven WITS intervention schools and seven matched control schools, measuring two outcomes: 1) PA level, 2) PA type (measured with an observational tool: System for Observing Play and Leisure Activities in Youth (SOPLAY)). Outcomes were measured in second and third graders pre-(T0) and post-(T1), one school-year into the WITS intervention during outdoor (T0 and T1) and indoor (inclement weather) (T1 only) recess. Results at T1 were compared between control and WITS schools with ANOVA tests. For PA level, the WITS intervention increased PA in indoor recess, a higher percentage of WITS girls and boys were vigorously active, a lower percentage were sedentary, and overall recess PA levels were higher (all p ≤ .001). For PA type, WITS intervention schools had higher overall PA level during ball-like activities during outdoor recess in girls (p = 0.002) and boys (p = 0.010). This study suggests active recess interventions increase PA level during indoor recess and during ball-like activities in outdoor recess, suggesting the WITS intervention has the potential to increase PA during school and help students receive the benefits of regular PA.
Highlights
In the U.S, the majority of children aged 6 and up do not meet federal daily physical activity recommendations (National Physical Activity Plan Alliance, 2016)
The results suggest that Wellness In The Schools (WITS) intervention schools had a higher proportion of both girls and boys that were vigorously active than control schools (p < .001; p = .001 respectively)
The results show that the WITS intervention schools had a higher overall physical activity level for ball-like activities in girls and boys (p = 0.002, p = 0.010 respectively) compared to control schools
Summary
In the U.S, the majority of children aged 6 and up do not meet federal daily physical activity recommendations (National Physical Activity Plan Alliance, 2016). The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, 2012) recommends children and adolescents aged 6–17 participate in a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily. According to the 2008 physical activity guidelines, which were the first official physical activity guidelines for Americans and the guidelines at the time of the current study, children should participate in vigorous activity at least 3 days per week, as well as ‘muscle and bone strengthening activities’ at least 3 days per week. Regular physical activity in children builds muscles, strengthens bones, facilities growth, and improves fitness. Physical inactivity contributes to the dramatic rise of childhood obesity from 7% in 1980
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