Effect of a Multidimensional Physical Activity Intervention on Body Mass Index, Skinfolds and Fitness in South African Children: Results from a Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial

Ivan Müller, Christian Schindler, Larissa Adams, Katharina Endes, Stefanie Gall, Markus Gerber, Nan S. N. Htun, Siphesihle Nqweniso, Nandi Joubert, Nicole Probst-Hensch, Rosa du Randt, Harald Seelig, Danielle Smith, Peter Steinmann, Jürg Utzinger, Peiling Yap, Cheryl Walter and Uwe Pühse
Additional contact information
Ivan Müller: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Christian Schindler: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Larissa Adams: Department of Human Movement Science, South Campus, P.O. Box 77000, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
Katharina Endes: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320 B, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
Stefanie Gall: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320 B, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
Markus Gerber: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320 B, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
Nan S. N. Htun: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Siphesihle Nqweniso: Department of Human Movement Science, South Campus, P.O. Box 77000, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
Nandi Joubert: Department of Human Movement Science, South Campus, P.O. Box 77000, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
Nicole Probst-Hensch: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Rosa du Randt: Department of Human Movement Science, South Campus, P.O. Box 77000, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
Harald Seelig: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320 B, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
Danielle Smith: Department of Human Movement Science, South Campus, P.O. Box 77000, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
Peter Steinmann: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Jürg Utzinger: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Peiling Yap: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Cheryl Walter: Department of Human Movement Science, South Campus, P.O. Box 77000, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
Uwe Pühse: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320 B, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: Obesity-related conditions impose a considerable and growing burden on low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa. We aimed to assess the effect of twice a 10-week multidimensional, school-based physical activity intervention on children’s health in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. A cluster-randomised controlled trial was implemented from February 2015 to May 2016 in grade 4 classes in eight disadvantaged primary schools. Interventions consisted of physical education lessons, moving-to-music classes, in-class activity breaks and school infrastructure enhancement to promote physical activity. Primary outcomes included cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index (BMI) and skinfold thickness. Explanatory variables were socioeconomic status, self-reported physical activity, stunting, anaemia and parasite infections. Complete data were available from 746 children. A significantly lower increase in the mean BMI Z-score (estimate of difference in mean change: −0.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.24 to −0.09; p < 0.001) and reduced increase in the mean skinfold thickness (difference in mean change: −1.06; 95% CI: −1.83 to −0.29; p = 0.007) was observed in intervention schools. No significant group difference occurred in the mean change of cardiorespiratory fitness ( p > 0.05). These findings show that a multidimensional, school-based physical activity intervention can reduce the increase in specific cardiovascular risk factors. However, a longer and more intensive intervention might be necessary to improve cardiorespiratory fitness.

Keywords: body mass index; cardiorespiratory fitness; intestinal protozoa; physical activity programme; school-aged children; soil-transmitted helminths; South Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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