Intervention Effects of the Health Promotion Programme “Join the Healthy Boat” on Objectively Assessed Sedentary Time in Primary School Children in Germany

Susanne Kobel, Jens Dreyhaupt, Olivia Wartha, Sarah Kettner, Belinda Hoffmann and Jürgen M. Steinacker
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Susanne Kobel: Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, 89075 Ulm, Germany
Jens Dreyhaupt: Institute for Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, 89075 Ulm, Germany
Olivia Wartha: Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, 89075 Ulm, Germany
Sarah Kettner: Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, 89075 Ulm, Germany
Belinda Hoffmann: Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, 89075 Ulm, Germany
Jürgen M. Steinacker: Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, 89075 Ulm, Germany

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: Sedentary behaviour (SB) in children is related to negative health consequences that can track into adulthood. The programme “Join the Healthy Boat” promotes reduced screen time and a less sedentary lifestyle in schoolchildren. This study investigated the effects of the programme on children’s SB. For one year, teachers delivered the programme. A total of 231 children (7.0 ± 0.6 years) participated in the cluster-randomised study; there were 154 one year later at follow-up. Children’s SB was assessed using multi-sensor accelerometery, screen time via parental questionnaire. Effects were analysed using (linear) mixed effects regression models. At baseline, children spent 211 (±89) min daily in SB, at follow-up 259 (±109) min/day with no significant difference between the intervention (IG) and control group (CG). SB was higher during weekends ( p < 0.01, for CG and IG). However, at follow-up, daily screen time decreased in IG (screen time of >1 h/day: baseline: 33.3% vs. 27.4%; follow-up: 41.2% vs. 27.5%, for CG and IG, respectively). This multi-dimensional, low-threshold intervention for one year does not seem to achieve a significant reduction in children’s SB, although screen time decreased in IG. Therefore, it should be considered that screen time cannot be the key contributor to SB and should not solely be used for changing children’s SB. However, if screen time is targeted, interventions should promote the replacement of screen time with active alternatives.

Keywords: inactivity; sedentary behaviour; sitting; school-based; childhood (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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