Trends in physical activity, health-related fitness, and gross motor skills in children during a two-year comprehensive school physical activity program

Timothy A. Brusseau, James C. Hannon, You Fu, Yi Fang, Kahyun Nam, Sara Goodrum, Ryan D. Burns

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the trends in school-day step counts, health-related fitness, and gross motor skills during a two-year Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) in children. Design: Longitudinal trend analysis. Methods: Participants were a sample of children (N = 240; mean age = 7.9 ± 1.2 years; 125 girls, 115 boys) enrolled in five low-income schools. Outcome variables consisted of school day step counts, Body Mass Index (BMI), estimated VO2 Peak, and gross motor skill scores assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3rd Edition (TGMD-3). Measures were collected over a two-year CSPAP including a baseline and several follow-up time-points. Multi-level mixed effects models were employed to examine time trends on each continuous outcome variable. Markov-chain transition models were employed to examine time trends for derived binary variables for school day steps, BMI, and estimated VO2 Peak. Results: There were statistically significant time coefficients for estimated VO2 Peak (b = 1.10 mL/kg/min, 95% C.I. [0.35 mL/kg/min–2.53 mL/kg/min], p = 0.009) and TGMD-3 scores (b = 7.8, 95% C.I. [6.2–9.3], p < 0.001). There were no significant changes over time for school-day step counts or BMI. Boys had greater change in odds of achieving a step count associating with 30 min of school day MVPA (OR = 1.25, 95% C.I. [1.02–1.48], p = 0.044). Conclusions: A two-year CSPAP related to increases in cardio-respiratory endurance and TGMD-3 scores. School day steps and BMI were primarily stable across the two-year intervention.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)828-832
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Science and Medicine in Sport
Volume21
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2018
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Sports Medicine Australia

Keywords

  • Child
  • Exercise
  • Health
  • Schools

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