Avery Lansing
Studying effects of
Before-School
Physical
Activity
Programs
on childhood fitness
ACEFitness.org
American Council on Exercise
Study published in Journal of
Exercise, Sports & Orthopedics
ADDRESSING:
THE CHILDHOOD OBESITY EPIDEMIC
1 in 3 elementary
school students is
overweight or
obese.
Obesity increased
threefold among
children 6-11 years
between 1980 &
2010.
INCREASE IN
SCREEN TIME
REDUCTION
IN
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
PROGRAMS
ONLY 30-42% OF
CHILDREN AGES 6-11
GET ENOUGH EXERCISE
BOKS
More than 1,200 schools worldwide
50-minute sessions of large-muscle
activity before school 3 days a week
Lesson plans involved a variety of
physical activities
Keep kids active in a fun & teamworkoriented environment
GOAL:
Determine if BOKS is a
safe and effective
program that can
serve as a model for
youth-fitness
initiatives.
EXPERIMENT:
Researchers chose 2
public schools to
evaluate.
* CONTROL Group did NOT
offer BOKS program *
EFFECTS OF BOKS
ON
Body weight
Percent body fat
Fat weight
Lean weight
Muscle Strength
Joint Flexibility
Aerobic
*Performance
Physical assessments
conducted at both
schools before and after
9 week period *
* RESULTS *
Significant improvements among
exercise group in 3 characteristics:
Percent fat
Fat weight
Aerobic Performance
EXERCISE GROUP:
Reduction in % body fat
Lost weight
Improvements in aerobic
performance
CONTROL GROUP:
BOTTOM LINE
Its a great success.
Dr. Westcott, Ph.D.
*****
Substantiates
importance of physical
activity programs in
schools
References:
Cohen, D. et al. (2011). Ten-year secular changes in
muscular fitness in English children.
Acta Paediatrica, 100:e175-7. DOI: 10.1111/j.16512227.2011.02318.x.
Gutin, B. & Owens, S. (2011). The influence of
physical activity on cardiometabolic biomarkers
in youths: A review. Pediatric Exercise Science, 23, 2,
169185.
Ogden, C.L. et al. (2014). Prevalence of childhood
and adult obesity in the United States,
20112012. Journal of the American Medical
Association, 311, 8, 806814. DOI: 10.1001/
jama.2014.732.
Runhaar, J. et al. (2010). Motor fitness in Dutch
youth: Differences over a 26- year period
(19802006). Journal of Science and Medicine in
Sport, 13, 3, 323328. DOI: 10.1016/j.
jsams.2009.04.006.
Sisson, S.B. & Katzmarzyk, P.T. (2008). International
prevalence of physical activity in youth
and adults. Obesity Reviews, 9, 6, 606614. DOI:
10.1111/j.1467-789X.2008.00506.x.
Troiano, R.P. et al. (2008). Physical activity in the
United States measured by accelerometer.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 40, 1, 181
188.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(1996). Physical Activity and Health: A Report of
the Surgeon General. Atlanta, Ga.: Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.