Increasing physical activity of children during school recess

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Sports Science
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Physical activity is essential for children's health and development.
• Low levels of physical activity in children are a significant public health concern.
• Recess provides a key opportunity to promote physical activity in elementary school settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention on increasing physical activity levels in elementary school students during recess.
• To measure changes in step count and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during recess.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Fitbit accelerometers to objectively measure physical activity (steps) in 6 elementary students.
• Implemented a multi-component intervention including reinforcement, self-monitoring, goal setting, and feedback.
• Compared physical activity data from a baseline phase to an intervention phase.

Main Results:

• Mean steps during the intervention phase (1,956 steps) were 47% higher than during the baseline phase (1,326 steps).
• The percentage of recess time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) increased from 4% in baseline to 25% during the intervention.
• The intervention demonstrated a significant positive impact on both step count and MVPA.

Conclusions:

• The combined intervention strategies (reinforcement, self-monitoring, goal setting, feedback) effectively increased physical activity in elementary students during recess.
• These findings suggest that similar interventions can be successfully applied to increase physical activity in various settings.
• Objective measurement using accelerometers provides reliable data for evaluating physical activity interventions in children.