Effectiveness and feasibility of lowering playground density during recess to promote physical activity and decrease sedentary time at primary school

BMC Public Health

Greet Cardon¹  Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij¹  Delfien Van Dyck²  Sara D’Haese² 

[1] Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, Ghent 9000, Belgium;Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, Brussels 1000, Belgium

关键词: Sedentary behavior;    Playground;    School;    Physical activity;    Youth;    Intervention;   

Others  :  1161471
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-13-1154

 received in 2013-09-16, accepted in 2013-12-04,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

This pilot study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of lowering playground density on increasing children’s physical activity and decreasing sedentary time. Also the feasibility of this intervention was tested.

Methods

Data were collected in September and October 2012 in three Belgian schools in 187, 9–12 year old children. During the intervention, playground density was decreased by splitting up recesses and decreasing the number of children sharing the playground. A within-subject design was used. Children wore accelerometers during the study week. Three-level (class – participant - measurement (baseline or intervention)) linear regression models were used to determine intervention effects. After the intervention week the school principals filled out a questionnaire concerning the feasibility of the intervention.

Results

The available play space was 12.18 ± 4.19 m²/child at baseline and increased to 24.24 ± 8.51 m²/child during intervention. During the intervention sedentary time decreased (−0.58 min/recess; -3.21%/recess) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (+1.04 min/recess; +5.9%/recess) increased during recess and during the entire school day (sedentary time: -3.29%/school day; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity +1.16%/school day). All principals agreed that children enjoyed the intervention; but some difficulties were reported.

Conclusions

Lowering playground density can be an effective intervention for decreasing children’s sedentary time and increasing their physical activity levels during recess; especially in least active children.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 D’Haese et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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