The impact of a school-based physical activity program on children's movement behaviors, aerobic fitness and motor competence: a follow up study
ObjectiveThis study evaluated the one-year impact of a 12-week school-based physical activity (PA) intervention, which added one extra hour of structured PA per week, on children's movement behaviors, aerobic fitness, and motor competence (MC).MethodsA longitudinal comparison between an experim...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1541862/full |
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| author | Moreno Bloch Rita Cordovil Rita Cordovil Luís P. Rodrigues Luís P. Rodrigues Clarice Martins Maria L. Braga Susana Vale Susana Vale Rui Proença João Brito João Brito José Guilherme José Guilherme Carlos Neto André Seabra André Seabra Júlio A. Costa |
| author_facet | Moreno Bloch Rita Cordovil Rita Cordovil Luís P. Rodrigues Luís P. Rodrigues Clarice Martins Maria L. Braga Susana Vale Susana Vale Rui Proença João Brito João Brito José Guilherme José Guilherme Carlos Neto André Seabra André Seabra Júlio A. Costa |
| author_sort | Moreno Bloch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveThis study evaluated the one-year impact of a 12-week school-based physical activity (PA) intervention, which added one extra hour of structured PA per week, on children's movement behaviors, aerobic fitness, and motor competence (MC).MethodsA longitudinal comparison between an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG) was conducted at baseline (PRE), mid-intervention (DUR), post-intervention (POST), and one-year follow-up (FUP). The study was conducted in a single school without randomization. Movement behaviors (accelerometry), aerobic fitness (YYIR1C), and MC (MCA battery) were assessed. Due to school changes and parental noncompliance, the sample decreased from 38 to 23 participants (EG; n = 13; CG; n = 10), a 39% dropout rate.ResultsOne year post-intervention, the EG spent more time in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA; + 41 min/day), less time in SED (−234 min/day), slept longer (+103 min/night), covered greater distances in the YYIR1C (+174 m), and achieved higher MC scores (+19% on the MCA battery test) compared to the CG. Although no significant differences in body weight were observed, the EG showed improved body mass index (BMI; −5 kg/m2) and a lower body fat percentage (−10%) when compared to the CG.ConclusionThe findings indicate that the benefits of a 3-month school-based PA intervention, which included an additional hour of physical education per week, can have sustained benefits for movement behaviors, physical fitness, and MC in children one year post-intervention. However, the small sample size and lack of randomization limit the generalizability of the results. Future research should employ larger, randomized trials to better assess the long-term impact of PA interventions on children’s health and fitness outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1cc1d42e92eb403391dab6bf822d46e9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-1cc1d42e92eb403391dab6bf822d46e92025-08-20T02:03:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-02-01710.3389/fspor.2025.15418621541862The impact of a school-based physical activity program on children's movement behaviors, aerobic fitness and motor competence: a follow up studyMoreno Bloch0Rita Cordovil1Rita Cordovil2Luís P. Rodrigues3Luís P. Rodrigues4Clarice Martins5Maria L. Braga6Susana Vale7Susana Vale8Rui Proença9João Brito10João Brito11José Guilherme12José Guilherme13Carlos Neto14André Seabra15André Seabra16Júlio A. Costa17Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, PortugalFaculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, PortugalCIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, PortugalInstituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Escola Superior de Desporto e Lazer, Viana do Castelo, PortugalSPRINT Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center, Viana do Castelo, PortugalFaculty of Sports, Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, and Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, University of Porto, Porto, PortugalPortugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, FPF, Oeiras, PortugalFaculty of Sports, Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, and Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, University of Porto, Porto, PortugalPolitécnico do Porto—Escola Superior de Educação, Porto, PortugalSchool D. Carlos I, Sintra, PortugalCIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, PortugalPortugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, FPF, Oeiras, PortugalPortugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, FPF, Oeiras, PortugalCentre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, PortugalFaculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, PortugalPortugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, FPF, Oeiras, PortugalCentre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, PortugalPortugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, FPF, Oeiras, PortugalObjectiveThis study evaluated the one-year impact of a 12-week school-based physical activity (PA) intervention, which added one extra hour of structured PA per week, on children's movement behaviors, aerobic fitness, and motor competence (MC).MethodsA longitudinal comparison between an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG) was conducted at baseline (PRE), mid-intervention (DUR), post-intervention (POST), and one-year follow-up (FUP). The study was conducted in a single school without randomization. Movement behaviors (accelerometry), aerobic fitness (YYIR1C), and MC (MCA battery) were assessed. Due to school changes and parental noncompliance, the sample decreased from 38 to 23 participants (EG; n = 13; CG; n = 10), a 39% dropout rate.ResultsOne year post-intervention, the EG spent more time in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA; + 41 min/day), less time in SED (−234 min/day), slept longer (+103 min/night), covered greater distances in the YYIR1C (+174 m), and achieved higher MC scores (+19% on the MCA battery test) compared to the CG. Although no significant differences in body weight were observed, the EG showed improved body mass index (BMI; −5 kg/m2) and a lower body fat percentage (−10%) when compared to the CG.ConclusionThe findings indicate that the benefits of a 3-month school-based PA intervention, which included an additional hour of physical education per week, can have sustained benefits for movement behaviors, physical fitness, and MC in children one year post-intervention. However, the small sample size and lack of randomization limit the generalizability of the results. Future research should employ larger, randomized trials to better assess the long-term impact of PA interventions on children’s health and fitness outcomes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1541862/fullsedentarismchildhoodexercisephysical activity programhealth |
| spellingShingle | Moreno Bloch Rita Cordovil Rita Cordovil Luís P. Rodrigues Luís P. Rodrigues Clarice Martins Maria L. Braga Susana Vale Susana Vale Rui Proença João Brito João Brito José Guilherme José Guilherme Carlos Neto André Seabra André Seabra Júlio A. Costa The impact of a school-based physical activity program on children's movement behaviors, aerobic fitness and motor competence: a follow up study Frontiers in Sports and Active Living sedentarism childhood exercise physical activity program health |
| title | The impact of a school-based physical activity program on children's movement behaviors, aerobic fitness and motor competence: a follow up study |
| title_full | The impact of a school-based physical activity program on children's movement behaviors, aerobic fitness and motor competence: a follow up study |
| title_fullStr | The impact of a school-based physical activity program on children's movement behaviors, aerobic fitness and motor competence: a follow up study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of a school-based physical activity program on children's movement behaviors, aerobic fitness and motor competence: a follow up study |
| title_short | The impact of a school-based physical activity program on children's movement behaviors, aerobic fitness and motor competence: a follow up study |
| title_sort | impact of a school based physical activity program on children s movement behaviors aerobic fitness and motor competence a follow up study |
| topic | sedentarism childhood exercise physical activity program health |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1541862/full |
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