Increasing children's physical activity during school recess periods

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Public Health Interventions
• Physical Activity Promotion

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
• Schools play a crucial role in promoting healthy lifestyles.
• Recess is a key opportunity for physical activity during the school day.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the Recess Enhancement Program (REP) on children's vigorous physical activity.
• To determine if REP participation is associated with increased physical activity rates in elementary schools.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design comparing 15 REP schools with 10 non-REP control schools in NYC.
• Direct observation of children's activity levels (sedentary, walking, very active) during recess using scan sampling.
• Multivariate statistical analysis to assess the association between REP participation and vigorous physical activity.

Main Results:

• Schools participating in REP showed significantly higher rates of vigorous physical activity (41% vs. 27%).
• REP participation was a significant predictor of increased vigorous physical activity (P=.027).
• The positive effect on physical activity persisted even when the REP coach was not present, indicating a potential shift in recess culture.

Conclusions:

• The Recess Enhancement Program (REP) effectively increased children's vigorous physical activity by 52% compared to non-REP schools.
• REP is a low-cost, potentially valuable intervention for combating childhood obesity.
• The program's success suggests it is worth replicating in other school settings.