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Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training

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Effectiveness and feasibility of lowering playground density during recess to promote physical activity and decrease

Sara D'Haese¹, Delfien Van Dyck, Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij

¹Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, Ghent 9000, Belgium. sara.dhaese@ugent.be.

BMC Public Health

|December 12, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Reducing playground density effectively increased children's physical activity and decreased sedentary time during school recesses. This intervention shows promise for promoting healthier habits in children.

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Area of Science:

Pediatric Health
Public Health Interventions
Childhood Physical Activity

Background:

Investigating the impact of playground density on children's physical activity and sedentary behavior.
Assessing the feasibility of implementing reduced playground density as an intervention strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine if lowering playground density increases children's physical activity.
To assess if lowering playground density decreases children's sedentary time.
To evaluate the feasibility of this intervention in a school setting.

Main Methods:

Pilot study involving 187 children aged 9-12 in three Belgian schools.
Intervention involved decreasing playground density by adjusting recess schedules and group sizes.
Objective measurements using accelerometers and subjective feedback from school principals.

Main Results:

Play space per child doubled during the intervention.
Significant decrease in sedentary time and increase in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during recess and school day.
Principals reported positive child engagement but noted some implementation challenges.

Conclusions:

Lowering playground density is an effective strategy to reduce sedentary time and boost physical activity in children.
The intervention is particularly beneficial for children with lower activity levels.
Feasibility is supported, with noted challenges requiring further consideration.