Increasing children's physical activity during school recess periods [Cómo aumentar la actividad física de los niños durante el período del recreo en las escuelas]

J.J. Chin and D. Ludwig

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue SUPPL.2, S200-S213

Abstract: Objectives. We examined whether schools' participation in the Recess Enhancement Program (REP) in the spring of 2011 was associated with higher rates of children's vigorous physical activity. Methods. In REP, a coach guides children through age-appropriate games aimed at increasing their physical activity. During recess at 25 New York City public elementary schools (15 REP, 10 non-REP), researchers visually scanned predetermined areas (n = 1339 scans), recording the number of sedentary, walking, and very active children. Results. Multivariate statistical analysis found that participation in REP was a significant predictor (P= .027) of the rate of vigorous physical activity (percentage very active in scan area) whose least-squares meanswere 41% in REP schools and 27%in non-REP schools. A significantly higher rate in REP schools persisted when the coach was not in the scan area, suggesting a change in the recess culture of REP schools. Conclusions. The rate of vigorous physical activity in REP schools was 14 percentage points, or 52%, higher than the rate in non-REP schools. This low-cost intervention might be a valuable addition to the tools for combating childhood obesity and worth replicating elsewhere.

Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:2014:104:suppl.2:s200-s213_8

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