Abstract
BackgroundTo determine whether the provision of higher levels of compulsory school physical activity is associated with higher physical activity and fitness levels and less overweight in childhood and 20 years later.MethodsAs part of the 1985 Australian Schools Health and Fitness Survey, 109 schools reported how much compulsory physical education (PE) and school sport they provided and were classified as low (<110 and <150 minutes/week for primary and secondary schools, respectively), medium (110–149 and 150–189 minutes/week for primary and secondary schools, respectively) or high (≥150 and ≥190 minutes/week for primary and secondary schools, respectively) compulsory physical activity schools by tertile cutpoints. 6,412 children reported frequency and duration of school (PE and sport) and non-school (commuting and non-organised exercise) physical activity and had height and weight measured; overweight was defined using body mass index (BMI) (m/kg2) cutpoints. 9, 12 and 15 year-olds (n = 2,595) completed a cycle ergometer fitness test (physical working capacity at heart rate 170, PWC170). At follow-up in 2004–5, 2,346 participants kept a pedometer record, completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and/or a PWC170 fitness test; and had height and weight measured (overweight = BMI≥25 m/kg2).ResultsAt baseline and follow-up, median total physical activity, fitness and BMI were similar in participants who attended low, medium and high physical activity schools, and those attending high physical activity schools reported only modestly higher school physical activity. There was no difference in the prevalence of high total physical activity and fitness levels in childhood or adulthood across compulsory school physical activity categories. The prevalence of overweight in childhood and adulthood was similar across low, medium and high compulsory physical activity schools.ConclusionThe amount of compulsory physical activity reported by schools was not associated with total physical activity, fitness or overweight in childhood or in adulthood. Policies promoting amounts of compulsory school physical activity in this range may not be sufficient to increase physical activity and fitness or reduce the prevalence of obesity in children.
Highlights
To determine whether the provision of higher levels of compulsory school physical activity is associated with higher physical activity and fitness levels and less overweight in childhood and 20 years later
This study aimed to examine whether children who attended schools that reported providing higher levels of compulsory weekly physical activity had higher physical activity and fitness levels and a lower prevalence of overweight than children whose schools reported providing lower levels of compulsory physical activity
Participants Data were derived from the 1985 Australian Schools Health and Fitness Survey (ASHFS), a nationally representative survey of 8,498 children aged 7–15 years from 109 primary and secondary government, Catholic and independent schools
Summary
To determine whether the provision of higher levels of compulsory school physical activity is associated with higher physical activity and fitness levels and less overweight in childhood and 20 years later. Schools have often been targeted as important settings for health promotion strategies aimed at increasing children's physical activity levels. In 2005 the Australian federal government introduced legislation requiring all primary and junior secondary schools to provide a minimum of two hours per week of physical activity [5]. This physical activity can be structured or unstructured but must be implemented through the curriculum during class times; it seems likely that this compulsory physical activity will be undertaken through existing school PE and school sport programs. While structured interventions have had some success at increasing physical activity levels in the short [6,7] and longer term [8], the effectiveness of policy that mandates compulsory school physical activity as a strategy for increasing children's physical activity is unknown
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