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Ecological study of playground space and physical activity among primary school children.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:To examine the relationship between school playground size and total physical activity (PA), fitness and fundamental movement skills (FMS) of primary school students. DESIGN:Cross-sectional ecological analysis. SETTING:43 primary schools in New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS:Data were from 5238 students, aged 5 to 12 years, participating in the Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey. OUTCOME MEASURES:Self (for age ?11 years) and parent (for age <11 years) report of PA (meeting PA recommendations and number of days meeting recommendations), objectively measured FMS and cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. RESULTS:Associations between playground space and measures of PA and fitness were mostly non-linear and moderated by loose equipment. Students in schools with no loose equipment showed a weak association between space and meeting PA recommendations (self-report). In schools with equipment, students' predicted probability of meeting PA recommendations increased sharply between 15?m2 and 25?m2 per student from 0.04 (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.08) to 0.30 (95% CI: 0.14 to 0.46), but at 30?m2 returned to levels comparable to students in schools with no equipment (0.18, 95%?CI: 0.07 to 0.28). For cardiorespiratory fitness, in schools with no loose equipment, probabilities for being in the healthy cardiovascular fitness zone varied between 0.66 and 0.77, showing no consistent trend. Students in schools with loose equipment had a predicted probability of being in the healthy fitness zone of 0.56 (95% CI: 0.41 to 0.71) at 15?m2 per student, which rose to 0.75 (95% CI: 0.63 to 0.86) at 20?m2 per student. There was no relationship between space and FMS. CONCLUSIONS:School space guidelines need to incorporate sufficient playground space for students. Our study provides evidence supporting better PA outcomes with increasing space up to 25?m2 per student, and access to loose equipment, however further research is required to determine precise thresholds for minimum space. Intersectoral planning and cooperation is required to meet the needs of growing school populations.

SUBMITTER: Grunseit AC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7312342 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Ecological study of playground space and physical activity among primary school children.

Grunseit Anne C AC O'Hara Blythe Jane BJ Drayton Bradley B Learnihan Vincent V Hardy Louise L LL Clark Eve E Klarenaar Paul P Engelen Lina L

BMJ open 20200623 6

<h4>Objectives</h4>To examine the relationship between school playground size and total physical activity (PA), fitness and fundamental movement skills (FMS) of primary school students.<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional ecological analysis.<h4>Setting</h4>43 primary schools in New South Wales, Australia.<h4>Participants</h4>Data were from 5238 students, aged 5 to 12 years, participating in the Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey.<h4>Outcome measures</h4>Self (for age ≥11 years) and parent ...[more]

PMID: 32580983

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Project description:The recent prevalence of obesity in Japanese children is much higher compared to 1980. The present study compared daily sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) between the school year and summer vacation in Japanese primary school children.Participants were 98 Japanese boys (8.9?±?1.8 years at baseline) and 111 girls (9.1?±?1.8 years). SB and PA were measured in May (school term) and July/August (summer vacation), 2011. SB and PA were assessed using a triaxial accelerometer (Active style Pro HJA-350IT, Omron Healthcare) for 7 consecutive days. The average number of minutes spent in SB (no more than 1.5 metabolic equivalents (METs)), light intensity activity (LPA; more than 1.5 to less than 3.0 METs) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; 3.0 METs or more), and step counts were calculated for each individual. Moreover, the determinants/moderators of changes in SB and PA were examined.Daily SB was significantly higher in the summer vacation than in the school year for both boys and girls (p?<?0.05). Ambulatory and total LPA and MVPA, non-ambulatory LPA and step counts were lower in summer vacation in both genders (p?<?0.001). Moreover, non-ambulatory MVPA was significantly lower in the summer vacation than in the school year for girls (p?<?0.001). The decrease in non-ambulatory MVPA in boys and increase in SB in girls were significantly lower in those who participated in sports compared to those who did not (p?<?0.040 or p?<?0.033). The change in SB for boys was significantly associated with having a TV in the bedroom (p?<?0.022).These findings show that primary school children in Japan are less active in the summer vacation, as indicated by both higher SB and lower LPA and ambulatory MVPA in both genders. Moreover, the seasonal change in non-ambulatory MVPA for Japanese children was affected by gender. This study also suggests that sports participation and bedroom TV ownership may moderate seasonal changes in PA and SB. The results emphasize the need to take summer vacation into account when planning interventions aimed at decreasing SB or increasing PA in Japanese children.

Project description:BackgroundThe environment affects children's energy balance-related behaviors to a considerable extent. A context-based physical activity and nutrition school- and family-based intervention, named KEIGAAF, is being implemented in low socio-economic neighborhoods in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The aim of this study was to investigate: 1) the effectiveness of the KEIGAAF intervention on BMI z-score, waist circumference, physical activity, sedentary behavior, nutrition behavior, and physical fitness of primary school children, and 2) the process related to the implementation of the intervention.MethodsA quasi-experimental, controlled study with eight intervention schools and three control schools was conducted. The KEIGAAF intervention consists of a combined top-down and bottom-up school intervention: a steering committee developed the general KEIGAAF principles (top-down), and in accordance with these principles, KEIGAAF working groups subsequently develop and implement the intervention in their local context (bottom-up). Parents are also invited to participate in a family-based parenting program, i.e., Triple P Lifestyle. Children aged 7 to 10 years old (grades 4 to 6 in the Netherlands) are included in the study. Effect evaluation data is collected at baseline, after one year, and after two years by using a child questionnaire, accelerometers, anthropometry, a physical fitness test, and a parent questionnaire. A mixed methods approach is applied for the process evaluation: quantitative (checklists, questionnaires) and qualitative methods (observations, interviews) are used. To analyze intervention effectiveness, multilevel regression analyses will be conducted. Content analyses will be conducted on the qualitative process data.DiscussionTwo important environmental settings, the school environment and the family environment, are simultaneously targeted in the KEIGAAF intervention. The combined top-down and bottom-up approach is expected to make the intervention an effective and sustainable version of the Health Promoting Schools framework. An elaborate process evaluation will be conducted alongside an effect evaluation in which multiple data collection sources (both qualitative and quantitative) are used.Trial registrationDutch Trial Register NTR6716 (registration date 27/06/2017, retrospectively registered), METC163027, NL58554.068.16, Fonds NutsOhra project number 101.253.

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Ecological study of playground space and physical activity among primary school children.

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Ecological study of playground space and physical activity among primary school children.

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