Learning “Math on the Move”: Effectiveness of a Combined Numeracy and Physical Activity Program for Primary School Children

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 492-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Vetter ◽  
Helen O’Connor ◽  
Nicholas O’Dwyer ◽  
Rhonda Orr

Background: Physically active learning that combines physical activity with core curriculum areas is emerging in school-based health interventions. This study investigates the effectiveness of learning an important numeracy skill of times tables (TT) while concurrently engaging in aerobic activity compared with a seated classroom approach. Methods: Grade-4 primary school students were randomly allocated to physical activity (P) or classroom (C) groups and received the alternate condition in the following term. P group received moderate to vigorous exercise (20 min, 3 times per week, 6 wk) while simultaneously learning selected TT. C group received similar learning, but seated. Changes in TT accuracy, general numeracy, aerobic fitness, and body mass index were assessed. Data were expressed as mean (SEM) and between-condition effect size (ES; 95% confidence interval). Results: Participants [N = 85; 55% male, 9.8 (0.3) y, 36.4% overweight/obese] improved similarly on TT in both conditions [C group: 2.2% (1.1%); P group: 2.5% (1.3%); ES = 0.03; −0.30 to 0.36; P = .86]. Improvement in general numeracy was significantly greater for P group than C group [C group: 0.7% (1.2%); P group: 5.3% (1.4%); ES = 0.42; 0.08 to 0.75; P < .03]. An improvement in aerobic fitness for P group (P < .01) was not significantly greater than C group [C group: 0.8 (0.6); P group: 2.2 (0.5) mL·kg·min−1; ES = 0.32; −0.01 to 0.66; P = .06]. Body mass index was unchanged. Conclusion: Combined movement with learning TT was effective. Physically active learning paradigms may contribute to meeting daily physical activity guidelines while supporting or even boosting learning.

2016 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 346-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes W. de Greeff ◽  
Esther Hartman ◽  
Marijke J. Mullender-Wijnsma ◽  
Roel J. Bosker ◽  
Simone Doolaard ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-49
Author(s):  
Senka Dinarević ◽  
Suada Branković ◽  
Snježana Hasanbegović

Introduction: The prevalence of pediatric obesity is increasing. Finding the most effective preventive measures for the development of obesity in each country requires accurate epidemiological data on the number of obese children and adolescents, and their habits regarding nutrition and activity. The objective of this study was evaluate diet and physical activity in primary school students in relation to the occurrence of obesity, to determine the prevalence of overweight, mark the basic causes of this phenomenon and to establish measures for treatment and prevention.Methods: pupils 1-8. grades of primary schools were surveyed in written forms in terms of nutrition and physical activity, and measured height and weight, body mass index (BMI-body mass index) was calculated by whichwas estimated the level of nourishment: BMI> p (percentile) 5-malnutrition, p 5-85 proper body weight, p 85-95 over-nutrition, p> 95 obesity.Results: The study comprised 2329 pupils from 10 primary schools in the Canton of Sarajevo. Number of respondents by age and gender was balanced: I-IV 1077, V-VIII 1252; M-1226 and -1103 W. Obese and overweight was 22.46%, 62.53% of normal weight and 15 underweight, 01%. Most children eat a sandwich from school 34.63%, and food from the bakery 23.36% and 23.64% a sandwich from home. Still-dense juices are mostly drunk, even 22.34% of the students, a maximum of 52.8% water. Daily candy had taken 53.21% of all primary school students. 33.80% of the students were active on physical activity lessons and daily only 28.27%.Conclusions: The overweight problem in relation to the way of nutrition and physical activity is evident. The most important factors in] uencing the development of obesity undernutrition of children in school, the high frequency of intake of sweets and thick juice, an inadequate level ofphysical activity and sedanteran way of life.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 8-15
Author(s):  
Indri Ramayanti ◽  
Asmarani Makmun

ABSTRACT Introduction The age of Primary School Children are the group most often affected by worm infections with a prevalence of more than 60%. Worm infection can cause a decrease in health conditions, Body Mass Index (BMI), intelligence and productivity of sufferers so that economically causes a lot of losses and decreases in the quality of human resources. Aims of Study The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of infection with Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) with the Body Mass Index (BMI) in the children of Elementary School ( SDN 188), Sukawinatan Landfill, Sukarame District, Palembang City. Methods This research is an analytic observational study with a cross-sectional approach. The population consisted of all children of SDN 188 Sukarame Subdistrict, Palembang City, 109 people who were selected by consecutive sampling. Examination of helminthiasis infection was obtained by taking faecal samples on the subject and then examined by laboratory with Kato-Katz method and Body Mass Index (BMI) through anthropomometric measurements of height and weight. The analysis carried out was univariate descriptively and bivariately by Chi-square test. Results There were found 27 (24.8%) children who were positive for helminthiasis and from the results of the bivariate test there was no correlation between STH infection and BMI (p> 0.05). Conclusion there was no significant relationship between infection with Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) and the Body Mass Index (BMI) of primary school age children around the Sukawinatan landfill in Palembang. Keywords: STH Infection, Body Mass Indeks, Landfiil Area


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8775
Author(s):  
Laura Redondo-Flórez ◽  
Domingo Jesus Ramos-Campo ◽  
Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez

The aim of the present study was to analyse body composition, anxiety, cardiovascular, and physical activity factors related with academic performance of school students as well as to analyse differences, by age, in these factors. We analysed in 266 primary school students’ (8.81 ± 1.62 years, range: 5–13 years) heart rate, anthropometric variables to calculate body mass index, physical activity performance, anxiety levels and academic results by the average of marks. Students were divided in two different groups, firstly by their lower or higher academic performance, and secondly by age. Results showed a negative correlation between academic performance and age, weight, body mass index and trait anxiety variables. Additionally, significant differences were found by age, presenting older students higher scores in body mass index and lower physical activity, trait anxiety, heart rate and academic performance values than younger students. Overweight and obesity may have a great impact in academic performance in children and we pointed out the necessity to establish programs related with healthy habits which include improvements in physical activity and nutrition behaviours with the objective to enhance children’s health general status, psychological profile, cognitive and motor development, and academic performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 1099-1110
Author(s):  
Alamri Fahad ◽  
Alahmadi Abdulrahman ◽  
AlGhamdi Badr ◽  
Alghamdi Essam ◽  
Alqarni Anas ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 547-581
Author(s):  
Marina Llosa Villa ◽  
Francisco Javier Pérez Rivera ◽  
Elena Andina Díaz

Introducción: Las intervenciones educativas en el entorno escolar, parecen la forma más efectiva de actuar contra la obesidad infantil. Los objetivos de esta revisión sistemática fueron, describir las intervenciones educativas sobre alimentación y/o actividad física llevadas a cabo en alumnos de Educación Primaria con el fin de disminuir o prevenir la obesidad infantil y analizar la eficacia de dichas intervenciones.Metodología: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en las bases de datos WOS y SCOPUS. Los criterios de elegibilidad fueron establecidos en base al acrónimo PICOS: (P) niños de educación primaria (6-12 años), (I) estudios que llevaran a cabo intervenciones de nutrición y/o actividad física en el ámbito escolar, (C) no recibir ninguna intervención, (O) evaluar el efecto de los programas educacionales sobre la obesidad infantil, (S) estudios experimentales, publicados entre 2013 y 2017.Resultados y discusión: Se identificaron 571 artículos, y finalmente se incluyeron 22 estudios. Se encontró que las intervenciones más prometedoras fueron las combinadas. La duración, la participación de los padres, el sexo y nivel socioeconómico pueden influir en la efectividad de las intervenciones. Se observó una escasez de intervenciones teóricamente fundamentadas.Conclusiones: Las intervenciones con mejores resultados son las combinadas, con actividades incluidas en el currículo y la participación de los padres. Las intervenciones a largo plazo parecen tener mejores resultados. Estos programas ayudan a la adquisición de hábitos saludables y existe cierta evidencia de que son útiles en la disminución del Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) o en la prevención de la obesidad infantil. Introduction: Educational interventions in the school environment seem the most effective way to act against childhood obesity. The objectives of this systematic review were to describe the educational interventions on nutrition and / or physical activity carried out in primary school students in order to reduce or prevent childhood obesity and analyze the effectiveness of these interventions.Methodology: A bibliographic search was carried out in the WOS and SCOPUS databases. Eligibility criteria were established based on the acronym PICOS: (P) primary school children (6-12 years), (I) studies that will carry out nutrition and / or physical activity interventions in the school setting, (C) not receive any intervention, (O) evaluate the effect of educational programs on childhood obesity, (S) experimental studies, published between 2013 and 2017.Results and discussion: 571 articles were identified, and finally 22 studies were included. It was found that the most promising interventions were the combined ones. Duration, parental involvement, gender and socioeconomic status can influence the effectiveness of interventions. A shortage of theoretically based interventions was observed.Conclusions: The interventions with the best results are the combined ones, with activities included in the curriculum and the participation of the parents. Long-term interventions seem to have better results. These programs help the acquisition of healthy habits and there is some evidence that they are useful in decreasing the Body Mass Index (BMI) or in the prevention of childhood obesity.  


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (21_suppl) ◽  
pp. 68-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Ringdal ◽  
Gerd Inger Ringdal ◽  
Helene Kristin Olsen ◽  
Asgeir Mamen ◽  
Per Morten Fredriksen

Aims: The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between parents’ level of education, measurements of physical attributes, and quality of life in a general sample of primary school children. Methods: The children’s and the parents’ versions of the Inventory of Life Quality in Children and Adolescents (ILC) were used to measure health-related quality of life (QOL) in 2140 school children (response rate 93%) and 1639 parents (response rate 71%) recruited from nine primary schools in Norway. A set of physical characteristics were also measured in the children: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, average daily minutes of physical activity, aerobic fitness, and handgrip strength. Results: The regression analysis showed stronger relationships between the covariates and QOL for the parents’ assessments than for the children’s. Parents’ level of education was significantly related to children’s QOL, with the strongest association for parental QOL assessment. Among the physical variables, aerobic fitness ( B = 0.01, p > .001 in both samples), and handgrip strength in the parents’ sample ( B = 0.21, p < .05) were significantly related to the children’s QOL. Conclusions: The present study replicated the well-known finding that parents’ sociodemographic status is important for children’s QOL. Our new contribution is to show that the physiological variables aerobic fitness and muscular strength also contributed significantly to explain variance in QOL. This opens up interesting perspectives on how to improve QOL among children through more emphasis on physical activity and physical fitness in schools.


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