School-based physical activity and changes in adiposity

Abstract

Objective: School-based physical education (PE) is often proposed as a strategy for obesity prevention, but many trials have found non-significant effects on body mass index (BMI). We examined the impact of school PE on adiposity in adolescents, using an ecological analysis to relate the number of PE sessions to changes in BMI and waist circumference. Research methods and procedures: Five-year, longitudinal, school-based study involving 34 secondary schools in London, England. Students were aged 11-12 years at baseline. Twenty-five schools reported one weekly session of PE, seven schools reported two sessions and two boys' schools reported three sessions. Weights, heights and waist circumferences were measured annually, and complete data from the first and fifth years of the study were available on 2727 students. Analyses compared anthropometric changes between students in schools with higher or lower amounts of PE time. In boys, the comparisons were between those receiving 1, 2 or 3 weekly sessions. In girls, comparisons were between those receiving one and two sessions. Results: There were no differences in BMI changes or the percentage of students classified as obese between schools of higher and lower frequency of PE. However, using unadjusted data, there were lower gains in waist circumference in boys and girls from the higher PE schools. Controlling for baseline demographic and anthropometric characteristics, boys in schools providing 3 weekly PE sessions gained on average approximately 3 cm less than boys in schools providing one or two sessions (Po0.001). Differences in girls were in the same direction but not significant. Discussion: Higher levels of school PE were associated with lower gains in adiposity in boys. This strengthens the case for including recommendations on school PE time as part of population strategies to control adolescent obesity.

Abdominal obesity: prevalence, sociodemographic- and lifestyle-associated factors in adolescents

“…Boys between 11 and 12 years of age who participated in physical education classes three times a week decreased their waist circumference by about 3 cm when compared to boys who participated only once or twice. The comparisons between girls showed the same behaviour, but without a statistically significant difference 35 .…”

Pedometer step guidelines for physical education settings

“…Several studies have shown that PA accrued in PE settings is associated with improved health outcomes in children and adolescents weight status (Datar & Sturm, 2004;Sollerhed & Ejlertsson, 2008;Wardle, Brodersen & Boniface, 2007) bone health (Weeks, Young & Beck, 2008) and blood pressure (Mc Murray et al, 2002). Some evidence also indicates that engagement in PE during childhood is associated with long-term positive effects on PA level, attitudes toward PA, and perceptions of barriers to PA during adulthood.…”

A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs

“…The number of PE classes did not have a significant influence on changes in mean students' BMIs for both boys and girls. The authors noted that the nonsignificant influence of higher number of PE classes on mean BMIs could be due to the increase of muscle mass from the result of exercise (Wardle, Brodersen, & Boniface, 2007). classroom curriculum, parent education, and health risk examination.…”