TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of a physical education program on physical activity, fitness, and health in children
T2 - The JuvenTUM project
AU - Siegrist, M.
AU - Lammel, C.
AU - Haller, B.
AU - Christle, J.
AU - Halle, M.
PY - 2013/6
Y1 - 2013/6
N2 - The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of a school-based prevention program on physical activity, fitness, and obesity. We performed a prospective study in eight Bavarian primary schools (n=724 children, 8.4±0.7years) randomized one to one to either an intervention school (IS, n=427) or a control school (CS, n=297). Children in IS attended 10 health-related lessons at school over a period of 1year. Parents and teachers attended two and three educational health-related lessons, respectively, and also received 10 newsletters on health issues. Daily physical activity (≥60min/day), physical fitness (six-item test battery), and anthropometric data were obtained at baseline and after 1year. Physical activity and physical fitness increased in IS, but it failed to reach significant intervention effects. Nevertheless, a reduction in waist circumference was observed for all children [mean change 1.7cm; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-2.3; P<0.001). This effect was more pronounced in overweight children (>90th percentile, n=99, mean change 3.2cm; 95% CI 1.5-4.8; P<0.001). This easily administered preventative program involving children, parents, and teachers revealed that a generalized approach increasing physical activity will even be favorable in a subgroup of obese children.
AB - The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of a school-based prevention program on physical activity, fitness, and obesity. We performed a prospective study in eight Bavarian primary schools (n=724 children, 8.4±0.7years) randomized one to one to either an intervention school (IS, n=427) or a control school (CS, n=297). Children in IS attended 10 health-related lessons at school over a period of 1year. Parents and teachers attended two and three educational health-related lessons, respectively, and also received 10 newsletters on health issues. Daily physical activity (≥60min/day), physical fitness (six-item test battery), and anthropometric data were obtained at baseline and after 1year. Physical activity and physical fitness increased in IS, but it failed to reach significant intervention effects. Nevertheless, a reduction in waist circumference was observed for all children [mean change 1.7cm; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-2.3; P<0.001). This effect was more pronounced in overweight children (>90th percentile, n=99, mean change 3.2cm; 95% CI 1.5-4.8; P<0.001). This easily administered preventative program involving children, parents, and teachers revealed that a generalized approach increasing physical activity will even be favorable in a subgroup of obese children.
KW - Exercise
KW - Health education
KW - Motor fitness
KW - School program
KW - Waist circumference
KW - Youth
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84877650895&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01387.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01387.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 22092492
AN - SCOPUS:84877650895
SN - 0905-7188
VL - 23
SP - 323
EP - 330
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
IS - 3
ER -