Abstract
Background: Integrated curriculum interventions have been suggested as an effective means to increase physical activity (PA) and health. The feasibility of such approaches in children living in deprivation is unknown. This study sought to pilot an integrated curriculum pedometer intervention in children living in deprivation on school-based PA, body fatness, resting blood pressure, motor skills and well-being.
Methods: Using a pilot cluster randomized intervention design, children (6-7-years-old, n=64) from two schools in central England undertook: (1) 10-week integrated curriculum intervention or (2) control (regular school-based activity). School-based PA, body fatness, resting blood pressure, motor skills and well-being was assessed pre and post intervention.
Results: for the intervention group PA was higher on school days when children had PE lessons or there were physically active integrated curriculum activities. Body fatness significantly decreased, wellbeing and perceived physical competence increased, pre-post for the intervention group compared to the control group. Accelerometer derived PA, motor skills and resting blood pressure were not significantly different pre-post for intervention or control groups.
Conclusions: A 10-week integrated curriculum PA intervention is feasible to conduct and can positively impact aspects of health in 6–7-year-old children in England.
Methods: Using a pilot cluster randomized intervention design, children (6-7-years-old, n=64) from two schools in central England undertook: (1) 10-week integrated curriculum intervention or (2) control (regular school-based activity). School-based PA, body fatness, resting blood pressure, motor skills and well-being was assessed pre and post intervention.
Results: for the intervention group PA was higher on school days when children had PE lessons or there were physically active integrated curriculum activities. Body fatness significantly decreased, wellbeing and perceived physical competence increased, pre-post for the intervention group compared to the control group. Accelerometer derived PA, motor skills and resting blood pressure were not significantly different pre-post for intervention or control groups.
Conclusions: A 10-week integrated curriculum PA intervention is feasible to conduct and can positively impact aspects of health in 6–7-year-old children in England.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 595-605 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Physical Activity & Health |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Early online date | 26 Mar 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.This document is the author’s post-print version, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer-review process. Some differences between the published version and this version may remain and you are advised to consult the published version if you wish to cite from it.
Funder
This research project was funded by the Investigator Initiated Study grant provided to Professors Jakovljevic and Duncan from Coronary Prevention Group, London, UKKeywords
- Humans
- Child
- Male
- Female
- Exercise/physiology
- Blood Pressure
- Curriculum
- Motor Skills
- Health Promotion/methods
- Physical Education and Training/methods
- England
- Pilot Projects
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
