A 10-Month Physical Activity Intervention Improves Body Composition in Young Black Boys Walking or bicycling to school and weight status among adolescents from Montería, Colombia. A school-based physical activity program to improve health and fitness in children aged 6–13 years ("Kinder-Sportstudie KISS"): study design of a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN15360785] Impact of a school-based physical activity intervention on fitness and bone in adolescent females. Cross sectional analysis of the association between mode of school transportation and physical fitness in children and adolescents Relations of moderate and vigorous physical activity to fitness and fatness in adolescents. Preliminary findings of the effect of a 3-year after-school physical activity intervention on fitness and body fat: the Medical College of Georgia Fitkid Project. SPACE for physical activity - a multicomponent intervention study: study design and baseline findings from a cluster randomized controlled trial Improvement of fitness, body composition, and insulin sensitivity in overweight children in a school-based exercise program: a randomized, controlled study. Strength Training and Physical Activity in Boys: a Randomized Trial Physical training of school children with spastic cerebral palsy: effects on daily activity, fat mass and fitness Rationale and study protocol for the supporting children’s outcomes using rewards, exercise and skills (SCORES) group randomized controlled trial: A physical activity and fundamental movement skills intervention for primary schools in low-income communities
Objective . To determine if a 10-month after-school physical activity ( PA ) intervention could prevent deleterious changes in body composition and cardiovascular ( CV ) fitness in young black boys . Methods . Following baseline measures , 106 boys ( 8–12 yrs ) were r and omized to either a control group or an intervention group , further divided into attenders ( ATT ) and nonattenders ( NATT ) , participating in ≥60 % or < 60 % of the intervention , respectively . The daily intervention consisted of skills development ( 25 min ) , vigorous PA ( VPA , 35 min ) , and strengthening/stretching ( 20 min ) components . Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . Results . Following the intervention , the ATT exhibited an increase in moderate-to-vigorous PA and a significant reduction in BMI , fat mass , and % BF compared to the control group . A significant association among the intervention energy expenditure and changes in body composition and CV fitness was observed only in the ATT group . Conclusion . An after-school PA program of sufficient length and intensity can promote healthy changes in body composition and fitness levels in black boys who attend at least 3 days/week BACKGROUND Active school transport ( AST ) is a recommended strategy to promote physical activity ( PA ) and prevent overweight ( OW ) in school-aged children . In many developing countries , such as Colombia , this association has not been well characterized . OBJECTIVE To determine the association between AST and weight status in a representative sample of adolescents from Montería , Colombia . METHODS Participants were 546 adolescents ( 278 boys ) aged 11 to 18 years old from 14 r and omly selected schools in Montería , Colombia in 2008 . The PA module of the Global School Health Survey ( GSHS-2007 ) was used to determine the prevalence of AST . To identify OW , participants were classified according to CDC 2000 criteria ( BMI ≥ 85th percentile ) . Association between AST and OW was determined by binomial logistic regression . RESULTS Odds ratios adjusted for age , sex , location of school , compliance with PA , and screen time recommendations showed that adolescents who reported AST had a significantly lower likelihood to be OW compared with adolescents who reported nonactive transportation ( OR = 0.5 , 95 % CI 0.3 - 0.8 , P < .05 ) . CONCLUSIONS These results support the importance of AST as a useful PA domain with potential implication s for overweight prevention , in rapidly developing setting s. Further epidemiologic and intervention studies addressing AST are needed in the region Background Childhood obesity is the result of a long lasting imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure . A major contributing factor is physical inactivity which is closely linked to bone health , cardiovascular disease risk , fitness and psychological factors . The school seems to provide an excellent setting to enhance levels of  physical activity ( PA ) .  However , there is insufficient data from previous school-based intervention trials on how to enhance overall PA . It is also unknown whether an intervention aim ed at increasing PA is effective in improving the children 's health . The purpose of this paper is to outline the design of a school-based r and omized , controlled trial ( RCT ) aim ing to increase overall PA and to improve fitness and health in 6- to 13-year-old children . Methods / Design 15 schools were r and omized to the intervention ( n = 9 ) or the control ( n = 6 ) group , stratified by geographic region ( urban vs. rural ) and by age ( 1st and 5th grade ) . Participation was given for all children in the intervention group since in this group the intervention was part of the normal school curriculum . The intervention during one academic year consisted of : 1 . two additional physical education classes per week given by trained physical education teachers adding up to a total of five PA classes per week , 2 . short PA breaks ( 2–5 min each ) during academic lessons , 3 . PA home work , and 4 . adaptation of recreational areas around the school . All children underwent  anthropometric measurements , blood pressure assessment , fitness testing , measurement of PA  and they filled out question naires . At least 70 % of all children agreed to blood sampling and measurements of body composition and bone mineral measurements by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry . The primary endpoints of the study after one year were an increase in total PA by accelerometry , an increase in aerobic fitness measured by the 20 m shuttle run , a decrease in percent body fat derived from skinfold measurements and an increase in quality of life as assessed by the child health question naire in the intervention group compared to the control group . Secondary outcomes were overall fitness , differences in body composition including body fat distribution , cardiovascular risk factors , psychosocial health , bone mineral content and density of femur , lumbar spine and total body and food intake . Discussion Our preliminary data suggest that the children were representative of Swiss children with respect to sex , socio-demographic status , and body mass index . Short-term results can be expected by the beginning of 2007 . We hypothesized that our intervention will lead to an increase in PA , fitness and overall health . Based on our data , we aim to provide important information regarding the influence of such an intervention on these outcome measures in school-aged children and to provide nationwide guidelines to improve PA in children BACKGROUND Many female adolescents participate in insufficient physical activity to maintain cardiovascular fitness and promote optimal bone growth . This study evaluates the impact of a school-based intervention on fitness , activity , and bone among adolescent females . METHODS Subjects were assigned to an  intervention ( n = 63 ) or comparison ( n = 59 ) group , and underwent assessment s of  cardiovascular fitness ( VO2peak )  , physical activity , body composition , bone mineral density ( BMD ) , bone mineral content ( BMC ) , and serum markers of bone turnover  at baseline and at the end of each of two school semesters . RESULTS The intervention increased physical activity , VO2peak , and BMC for the thoracic spine ( P values < 0.05 ) . Bone turnover markers were not affected . In longitudinal analyses of the combined groups , improvements in cardiovascular fitness predicted increased bone formation ( P < 0.01 ) and bone resorption ( P < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION A school-based intervention for adolescent females effectively increased physical activity , cardiovascular fitness , and thoracic spine BMC Objective To investigate the associations between body composition , cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in relation to travel mode to school in children and adolescents . Method Children and adolescents from 40 elementary schools and 23 high schools representing all regions in Norway were invited to participate in the study . Anthropometry , cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness  were tested at the school location . Question naires were used in order to register mode of transport to school , age , gender and levels of leisure time physical activity . Results A total of 1694 ( i.e. 60 % of all invited participants ) children and adolescents at a mean age of 9.6 and 15.6 respectively ( SD = 0.4 for both groups ) were analyzed for associations with physical fitness variables . Males cycling to school had lower sum of skin folds than adolescents walking to school . Higher cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents and male cyclists compared to walkers and passive commuters were observed . Among children , cycling and walking to school , higher isometric muscle endurance in the back extensors compared to passive commuters was observed . Conclusion Based on this national representative cross-sectional examination of r and omly selected children and adolescents there is evidence that active commuting , especially cycling , is associated with a favourable body composition and better cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness as compared to passive commuting BACKGROUND It is unclear how moderate and vigorous intensities of physical activity ( PA ) are associated with cardiovascular fitness ( CVF ) and percentage of body fat ( % BF ) in adolescents . OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that vigorous PA , to a greater degree than moderate PA , would be associated with better CVF and lower % BF . DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study of 421 black and white high school students ( x age : 16 y ) .  PA was measured with 5 d of accelerometry and expressed in min/d of moderate or vigorous PA .  CVF was measured with a multistage treadmill test and was expressed as the oxygen consumption at a heart rate of 170 bpm . % BF was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . Multiple regressions were used to determine the degree to which variance in CVF and % BF was explained by PA , after control for age , sex , race , and the sex x race interaction . RESULTS A higher index for CVF was associated with higher amounts of moderate and vigorous PA ;  more variance was explained by vigorous than by moderate PA .  Lower % BF was associated with higher amounts of vigorous PA but not with the amount of moderate PA . CONCLUSION Black and white adolescents who engaged in relatively large amounts of free-living vigorous exercise were likely to be relatively fit and lean OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of a 3-year after-school physical activity ( PA ) intervention on aerobic fitness and percent body fat ( % BF ) . METHODS In total , 18 schools were r and omized into intervention or control arms . Measurements were made at the beginning and end of the third , fourth and fifth grade s. Fitness was measured with heart rate response to a bench-stepping task.%BF and bone density were measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry . The intervention included 40 min of academic enrichment activities , during which healthy snacks were provided , and 80 min of moderate-to-vigorous PA ( MVPA ) . RESULTS Data analyses were performed on 206 youths who remained in the same schools for the 3-year period , who were measured at all six time points and , for the intervention group , who attended at least 40 % of the sessions in each of the 3 years . The group by time interactions were significant for fitness ( p < 0.01 ) and % BF ( p < 0.05 ) . Children in intervention schools improved in fitness and % BF during the school years and returned to levels similar to those in control schools during the summers . Over the six measurement points , the intervention group increased more than the control group in bone density ( p < 0.01 ) , fat-free soft tissue ( p < 0.01 ) , weight ( p < 0.01 ) , height ( p < 0.01 ) , and body mass index ( p < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS An after-school program focusing on MVPA had a beneficial effect on fitness and body composition . During the summers , the beneficial effect of the previous year 's participation on fitness and % BF was lost . This highlights the importance of year-round programs to promote healthy growth in youths Background The aim of the School site , Play Spot , Active transport , Club fitness and Environment ( SPACE ) Study was to develop , document , and assess a comprehensive intervention in local school districts that promote everyday physical activity ( PA ) among 11 - 15-year-old adolescents . The study is based on a social ecological framework , and is design ed to implement organizational and structural changes in the physical environment . Methods / design The SPACE Study used a cluster r and omized controlled study design . Twenty-one eligible schools in the Region of Southern Denmark were matched and r and omized in seven pairs according to eight matching variables summarized in an audit tool ( crow-fly distance from residence to school for 5 - 6th grade rs ; area household income ; area education level ; area ethnicity distribution ; school district urbanity ; condition and characteristics of school outdoor areas ; school health policy ; and active transport in the local area ) . Baseline measurements with accelerometers , question naires , diaries , and physical fitness tests  were obtained in Spring 2010 in 5 - 6th grade in 7 intervention and 7 control schools , with follow-up measurements to be taken in Spring 2012 in 7 - 8th grade . The primary outcome measure is objective average daily physical activity and will be supported by analyses of time spent in moderate to vigorous activity and time spent sedentary . Other secondary outcome measures will be obtained , such as , overweight , physical fitness , active commuting to/from school and physical activity in recess periods . Discussion A total of 1348 adolescents in 5 - 6th grade in the Region of Southern Denmark participated at baseline ( n = 14 schools ) . The response rate was high in all type of measurements ( 72.6 - 97.4 % ) . There were no significant differences between intervention and control groups at baseline according to selected background variables and outcome measures : gender ( p = .54 ) , age ( p = .17 ) , BMI ( p = .59 ) , waist circumference ( p = .17 ) , physical fitness ( p = .93 ) , and physical activity ( accelerometer ) ( p = .09).The r and omization and matched pair design produced equivalent groups according to central outcome measures and background variables . The SPACE for physical activity Study will provide new insights on the effectiveness of multicomponent interventions to improve adolescents ' physical activity level . Trial registration Current Controlled Trials IS RCT BACKGROUND Obesity and poor physical fitness constitute a health problem affecting an increasing number of children . Causes include a pervasive " toxic " environment that facilitates increased caloric intake and reduced physical activity . An effective strategy for prevention and treatment of childhood obesity likely includes a collaborative effort in the school setting . OBJECTIVE To determine whether a school-based fitness program can improve body composition , cardiovascular fitness level , and insulin sensitivity in overweight children . DESIGN Fifty overweight middle school children with a body mass index ( BMI ) above the 95th percentile for age were r and omized to lifestyle-focused , fitness-oriented gym classes ( treatment group ) or st and ard gym classes ( control group ) for 9 months . Children underwent evaluation of  fasting insulin and glucose levels , body composition by means of  dual energy absorptiometry , and maximum oxygen consumption ( V0(2)max ) treadmill testing  at baseline ( before the school year ) and at end of the school year . SETTING S Rural middle school and an academic children 's hospital . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Baseline test results for cardiovascular fitness , body composition , and fasting insulin and glucose levels . RESULTS At baseline , there were no differences between groups before intervention ( values for age , 12 + /- 0.5 years [ all results , mean + /- SD ] ; BMI [ calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters ] , 31.0 + /- 3.7 ; percentage of body fat , 36.5 % + /- 4.6 % ; lean body mass , 41.4 + /- 8.6 kg ; and V0(2)max , 31.5 + /- 5.1 mL/kg per minute ) . Compared with the control group , the treatment group demonstrated a significantly greater loss of body fat ( loss , -4.1 % + /- 3.4 % vs -1.9 % + /- 2.3 % ; P = .04 ) , greater increase in cardiovascular fitness ( V0(2)max , 2.7 + /- 2.6 vs 0.4 + /- 3.3 mL/kg per minute ; P<.001 ) , and greater improvement in fasting insulin level ( insulin level , -5.1 + /- 5.2 vs 3.0 + /- 14.3 microIU/mL [ -35.4 + /- 36.1 vs 20.8 + /- 99.3 pmol/L ] ; P = .02 ) . CONCLUSIONS Children enrolled in fitness-oriented gym classes showed greater loss of body fat , increase in cardiovascular fitness , and improvement in fasting insulin levels than control subjects . The modification to the school physical education curriculum demonstrates that small but consistent changes in the amount of physical activity has beneficial effects on body composition , fitness , and insulin levels in children . Partnering with school districts should be a part of a public health approach to improving the health of overweight children BACKGROUND : In developed societies levels of daily physical activity ( PA ) among school-age children are decreasing . This implies risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases . Specific strategies to improve levels of PA are needed . In prepubertal boys there is evidence that strength training increases spontaneous PA outside of training . METHODS : A total of 102 schoolchildren ( age 10–14 years ) in Switzerl and were r and omly assigned to  physical education classes or to participate twice weekly at a guided strength training program for 19 weeks  . Spontaneous PA energy expenditure ( PAEE ; 3axial accelerometry for 7 days ) , leg and arm strength , and body composition ( dual energy radiograph absorptiometry ) were measured at baseline , after 19 weeks of training intervention , and after 3 months of washout . RESULTS : There were no significant differences between the groups at baseline . In the intervention group , PAEE increased by 10 % from baseline to end of training in boys ( P = .02 ) , but not in girls . Leg and arm strength were increased owing to training intervention in both boys and girls . All other variables were unchanged . Baseline PAEE was significantly negatively correlated with changes of PAEE . CONCLUSIONS : Targeted strength training significantly increases daily spontaneous PA behavior in boys . The less active children showed the greatest increase in spontaneous PAEE . Girls showed a similar increase in strength , but not in spontaneous PAEE . This may be explained by their earlier pubertal development . Strength training may be a promising strategy in schools to counteract decreasing levels of PA Effects of two 9-month sports programmes ( four or two sessions per week ) on level of daily physical activity ( PA ) , fat mass ( FM ) , and physical fitness were assessed in children with spastic cerebral palsy ( CP ; n = 20 , 9.2 + /- 1.4 yr ) , r and omly assigned to an experimental and control group after matching . Four sessions per week tended to increase PA ratio ( 24-h energy expenditure/sleeping ( resting ) energy expenditure ) after 9 months from 1.34 + /- 0.25 to 1.55 + /- 0.18 ( P = 0.07 ; not different versus controls ) . FM increased continuously in the control group ( after 9 months + 1.1 + /- 1.6 kg , P < 0.05 ) , whereas the experimental groups showed no changes . Training ( respectively four and two sessions ) increased peak aerobic power 35 % ( P < 0.01 ; P < 0.05 versus controls ) and 21 % ( P < 0.01 ; P = 0.17 versus controls ) . Results also suggest that training has a favourable effect on isokinetic muscle strength . No training-related effects were found on anaerobic power . It was concluded that although aerobic training has a limited effect on PA in children with CP , it may prevent deterioration in body composition and muscle strength . Furthermore , training has a favourable effect on peak aerobic power Background Many Australian children are insufficiently active to accrue health benefits and physical activity ( PA ) levels are consistently lower among youth of low socio-economic position .  PA levels decline dramatically during adolescence and evidence suggests that competency in a range of fundamental movement skills ( FMS ) may serve as a protective factor against this trend . Methods / design The Supporting Children ’s Outcomes Using Rewards Exercise and Skills ( SCORES ) intervention is a multi-component PA and FMS intervention for primary schools in low-income communities , which will be evaluated using a group r and omized controlled trial . The socio-ecological model provided a framework for the 12-month intervention , which includes the following components : teacher professional learning , student leadership workshops ( including leadership accreditation and rewards , e.g. , stickers , water bottles ) , PA policy review , PA equipment packs , parental engagement via newsletters , FMS homework and a parent evening , and community partnerships with local sporting organizations . Outcomes will be assessed at baseline , 6- and 12-months . The primary outcomes are PA ( accelerometers ) , FMS ( Test of Gross Motor Development II ) and cardiorespiratory fitness ( multi-stage fitness test ) . Secondary outcomes include body mass index [ using weight (kg)/height ( m2 ) ] , perceived competence , physical self-esteem , and resilience . Individual and environmental mediators of behavior change ( e.g. social support and enjoyment ) will also be assessed . The System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time will be used to assess the impact of the intervention on PA within physical education lessons . Statistical analyses will follow intention-to-treat principles and hypothesized mediators of PA behavior change will be explored . Discussion SCORES is an innovative primary school-based PA and FMS intervention design ed to support students attending schools in low-income communities to be more skilled and active . The findings from the study may be used to guide teacher pre-service education , professional learning and school policy in primary schools . Trial registration Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry No :
These findings suggest that AST should be promoted to increase PA levels in children and adolescents and that cycling to/ from school is associated with increased cardiovascular fitness .
BACKGROUND The impact of  active school transport ( AST )  on daily physical activity ( PA ) levels , body composition and cardiovascular fitness remains unclear .