Changes in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in elementary school children following a 3 year school based physical activity intervention

Purpose: Schools provide opportunities for children to accumulate recommended daily moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). This study aimed to determine physical activity (PA) across the school day among elementary school children in Qatar. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 181 Grade 1 (5.8 ± 0.4 years) and Grade 4 (9.0 ± 0.5 years) children. Participants wore wrist-based accelerometers for 5 days to assess school-based PA. MVPA during physical education, recess, and class time were compared across sex, grade, and body mass index using general linear models. Results: Only 39.0% of this cohort met the recommended 30 min of MVPA during school hours. Fewer girls (23.2%) than boys (58.1%) achieved the school-based PA guidelines (p < .001). The children engaged in 19.0 ± 12.3%, 19.3 ± 8.6%, and 6.2 ± 3.4% of the designated physical education, recess, and class time in MVPA, respectively. Conclusion: Elementary school children in Qatar engage in inadequate MVPA during the school day, especially girls. Enhancing PA opportunities during physical education and recess is crucial.

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Prevalence and association between obesity and metabolic syndrome among Chinese elementary school children: a school-based survey

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/1471-2458-10-780 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

WeiJia Liu ◽

Rong Lin ◽

AiLing Liu ◽

Lin Du ◽

Qing Chen

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Elementary School ◽

School Children ◽

Elementary School Children ◽

School Based

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Effects of a School-Based Physical Activity Program on Physical and Psychosocial Quality of Life in Elementary School Children: A Cluster-Randomized Trial

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.22.4.511 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 511-522 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Tim Hartmann ◽

Lukas Zahner ◽

Uwe Pühse ◽

Jardena J. Puder ◽

Susi Kriemler

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Elementary School ◽

School Children ◽

Effect Size ◽

Elementary School Children ◽

First Graders ◽

Fifth Graders ◽

School Based

The present study tested the effect of a school-based physical activity (PA) program on quality of life (QoL) in 540 elementary school children. First and fifth graders were randomly assigned to a PA program or a no-PA control condition during one academic year. QoL was assessed by the Child Health Questionnaire at baseline and postintervention. Based on mixed linear model analyses, physical QoL in first graders and physical and psychosocial QoL in fifth graders were not affected by the intervention. In first graders, the PA intervention had a positive impact on psychosocial QoL (effect size [d], 0.32; p < .05). Subpopulation analyses revealed that this effect was caused by an effect in urban (effect size [d], 0.38; p < .05) and overweight first graders (effect size [d], 0.45; p < .05). In conclusion, a school-based PA intervention had little effect on QoL in elementary school children.

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