Effects of a physical education program on physical activity, fitness, and health in children: The JuvenTUM project. Issue 3 (29th September 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Siegrist, M.; Lammel, C.; Haller, B.; Christle, J.; Halle, M.
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. Volume 23:Issue 3(2013)
• Page Start: 323
• Page End: 330
• Publication Date: 2011-09-29
• Subjects: Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01387.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-7188

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of a school‐based prevention program on physical activity, fitness, and obesity. We performed a prospective study in eight Bavarian primary schools (<italic>n</italic> = 724 children, 8.4 ± 0.7 years) randomized one to one to either an intervention school (IS, <italic>n</italic> = 427) or a control school (CS, <italic>n</italic> = 297). Children in IS attended 10 health‐related lessons at school over a period of 1 year. Parents and teachers attended two and three educational health‐related lessons, respectively, and also received 10 newsletters on health issues. Daily physical activity (≥ 60 min/day), physical fitness (six‐item test battery), and anthropometric data were obtained at baseline and after 1 year. Physical activity and physical fitness increased in IS, but it failed to reach significant intervention effects. Nevertheless, a reduction in waist circumference was observed for all children [mean change 1.7 cm; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–2.3; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). This effect was more pronounced in overweight children (> 90th percentile, <italic>n</italic> = 99, mean change 3.2 cm; 95% CI 1.5–4.8; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). This easily administered preventative program involving children, parents, and teachers revealed that a generalized approach increasing physical activity will even be favorable in a subgroup of obese children.</p> </abstract>