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ERIC Number: EJ1059804
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: N/A
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-8981
EISSN: N/A
Active and Healthy Schools
Ball, Stephen; Kovarik, Jessica; Leidy, Heather
Physical Educator, v72 n2 2015
The Active and Healthy School Program (AHS) can be used to alter the culture and environment of a school to help children make healthier choices. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of AHS to increase physical activity while decreasing total screen time, increase healthy food choices, and improve knowledge about physical activity and nutrition among students. Pedometry quantified physical activity time and steps in 150 children (fifth to eighth grades). Children's Attraction to Physical Activity (CAPA) and Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS) dietary behavior questions were also administered. Students participated in 80 ± 10 min of television viewing and/or computer and video game usage per day with no change in behavior observed following the intervention. No differences in step counts at home (prestudy: 5,728 ± 343 steps/day vs. poststudy: 6,583 ± 634 steps/day; p = 0.17) or school (prestudy: 5,405 ± 184 steps/day vs. poststudy: 5,613 ± 533 steps/day; p = 0.17) were observed following the intervention. However, physical activity time during school increased by 10 ± 1 min (p < 0.001) following the intervention. The CAPA score decreased slightly (prestudy: 35.4 ± 1.2 au; poststudy: 33.4 ± 1.4 au, p < 0.01). The frequency of consuming fruit (p < 0.03) and vegetables other than salad (p < 0.03) increased by 31% ± 8% and 43% ± 10%, respectively. AHS is an effective school-based intervention that positively impacts contributing factors of obesity. School administrators should consider implementing many of the AHS components to improve the health of their students.
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 5; Middle Schools; Intermediate Grades; Elementary Education; Grade 6; Grade 7; Junior High Schools; Secondary Education; Grade 8
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A