Classroom active breaks: a feasibility study in Southern Italy

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Sedentary behavior is a concern in primary schools, despite schools offering physical activity (PA) opportunities.
• Integrating PA into the school day is crucial for combating childhood inactivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess the feasibility of a classroom-based intervention to reduce inactivity in primary school children.
• To evaluate the impact of Classroom Active Breaks (CABs) on physical activity levels.

Main Methods:

• A feasibility study involving 47 primary school children in Southern Italy.
• Implementation of two daily Classroom Active Breaks (CABs) sessions, three times a week, supervised by teachers.

Main Results:

• CABs potentially reduced inactivity by ~12 minutes and increased PA levels equivalently.
• Approximately 5 minutes of the increased PA were of moderate/vigorous intensity.
• Girls showed greater improvements in PA and reductions in inactivity compared to boys.

Conclusions:

• Classroom Active Breaks (CABs) are a safe and effective tool for reducing inactivity and increasing moderate/vigorous PA in primary school children.
• Flexible integration of structured exercise breaks into the school curriculum enhances program feasibility.