Research Review 1

Research Review Matthew Mabalot COH 61 National University

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Increasing Childrens Physical Activity During School Recess Periods Research Review

The article on Increasing Childrens Physical Activity During School examined how schools can help children increase higher physical activity rates during recess. The reason for the study is because children were not getting enough exercise in their daily lives. This study was a way to prevent childhood obesity with low costs because of the budget cuts in elementary schools. Children lacked physical activity outside of Physical Education classes which lead to the ideas of increasing a childs physical activity during recess. The purpose of the study was to analyze if there would be an increase in the childrens physical activity if a program was put into place during recess that followed a program instructed by a coach. Many studies have been done already to attempt to increase physical activity in children such as paintings on the playground for children to play, workshops, and after school programs. But the previous studies resulted in mixed results. This study attempted it with a play coach in during recess. The Recess Enhancement Program (REP) consisted of a coach that would guide children through activities and games to increase the childs physical activity. The study examined 25 New York City elementary schools, 15 with REP and 10 with no REP. The study visually scanned predetermined areas of students who were sedentary, walking, and very active children. The type of study was a cross sectional design study using mixed methods which examined the increase or decrease of the rates of children. The REP could not prove increases in physical activity but it allowed physical activity to be observed in different scenarios. The study was examined at the 25 schools with both REP and non REP, comparing the REP with a coach, and without a coach. The demographic information collected was on the race/ethnicity such as

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American Indian, Asian Pacific Islander, African American, Hispanic, and white, the gender, and whether or the not child had free/reduced lunch. The studies were observed on the playgrounds which were divided up into 8 sections to scan the children who were sedentary, walking, and very active in each scan. The observations had some days with the coach and some days without a coach for the schools with REP in place. The scans observed both boys and girls. Some scans were done before lunch and after lunch. The results found that REP was a significant factor in the higher rate in vigorous physical activity where the rate was 41% in REP schools and 27% in non-REP schools. The rate was higher in REP schools when the coach was not in the scan area. The REP schools resulted in 14 percentage points higher in physical activity compared to non REP schools. The discussion of the research found that the REP was at low cost and was used as a tool to help in the challenge of childhood obesity. Although the childrens physical activity could not be measured, the study did find that increases in the physical rate of children being more active resulted in the study. The play coach did not make a significant difference, but because the teachers enjoyed being involved in the REP, the physical activity of children did increase as far as the observations during the scans. There was not a huge difference with the children who were inactive from the beginning and the results from the study was that children were already motivated to walk or be active became more motivated to join in therefore increased their physical activity. The introduction of the research was straight forward as it started off with the background and the research problem. It was easy to understand that childhood obesity was the problem and the research question was whether or not an REP in a school can increase physical activity. The

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purpose of the study was clear enough to understand that a research study should be done to determine if adding activities to recess in public schools along with a play coach would help lead games and train staff. The increase in childhood obesity is a huge issue and can be identified at

the early stages of childhood. The author clearly defined the background of the study in detail on the challenges children are faced with in public schools and childhood obesity. The numbers on the percentage of obese children was dramatic enough to take concern and find a solution. The article described what studies have been done and what is different about this study. The study did prove that a play coach or staff leading games during recess could increase physical activity in children. The methods for the problem were appropriate for this type of study in regards to the research question of whether or not a coach and an REP intervention can increase physical activity. It seems pretty obvious before reading passed the purpose of the study that having anyone in a public school to play games with children during recess can increase physical activity. Any type of intervention with the children during recess can easily increase activity but mostly for those children who already enjoyed being active. The method of scanning and observing children was not the best way to do a study on the physical activity but certainly the cheapest way to do a study. The study can be easily duplicated and more enhanced by including accelerometers in the study. Scanning the different backgrounds and gender were not as useful when looking at the results but were very interesting. The study should have been based on the childrens initial weight and activity level. The flaws are definitely the exclusive of not having an accurate measurement of physical activity. The System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth SOPLAY was a great tool to document physical activity but could have been

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used in combination with accelerometers. The methods did bring results back as far as increasing physical activity and has proven that the REP can increase physical activity. The results could have been explained in a summary rather than too many numbers that were observed. The numbers were inconsistent based on the data they had to work with such as the scans that only had a few female genders and schools with a higher population of a specific race or ethnic group. The numbers for the children who had free lunch seemed irrelevant to the study as well. The results of the study did not show a significant difference when a coach was present. Previous studies were done without the play coach present, and this study should have proven a dramatic difference. The REP intervention in schools did prove to increase physical activity from the results and will help in future studies. The tables were a bit confusing because of the overload of data that was used in the characteristics table. The study could have focused on the activity level of the staff and the coach to see if the increase of the physical activity of the staff or coach can make a significant increase in the childrens physical activity. The results did bring back numbers that answered the research question such as the comparison between REP and Non REP schools but the comparison having a coach present and not present was not result one would expect before the study. The REP is definitely a great way to promote physical activity although the results did not show a drastic difference. The results may have had more significance if the total number of REP schools were equal to the total number of NON REP schools observed. The author discussed the results as useful, comparing the REP and NON REP schools. The issue remains with what to do with the students who were consistently sedentary and walking during the REP. The author made a great point in the discussion in regards to budget cuts in public schools because without enough money to provide students with the appropriate

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level of physical activity, there would not be an issue today with obesity. The study proved to help public schools implement a low cost program that only involves staff to play and lead children in physical games. The study did not use accelerometers because it was far too expensive to supply every student in 25 schools which is another example of how budgets can decrease the true needs of students concerning their health. The strengths of the study were the total number of schools involved and SOPLAY who documented the scanned areas each day. The article clearly explained how the observations made by SOPLAY were accurate because of previous reviews SOPLAY was reputable for. The observations of both REP and NON REP schools were pretty obvious that REP schools would have shown an increase in physical activity. The weakness of the research was only to have the play coach available some days of the week. Another research should have an REP school with no play coach at all throughout the entire study, an REP with the play coach there at all times, and an REP school with both a play coach and staff alternating. The results would make a more of a significant difference in regards to the play coach being stated as the difference between previous studies. Some areas for further work can also include involving all children in the games rather than allowing students to be sedentary or walking. The rate of physical activity would increase dramatically and a make true difference in the prevention of childhood obesity. Overall the study was deemed successful at the point of the initial questions. Future studies based on this platform can transform into greater studies for the greater good of our children in the future. The researchers were a nonprofit organization and public schools that worked together to find a solution to improve the physical activity that children are exposed to on a daily basis. Looking from the outside of the study at a glance it appears to be such an obvious factor on increasing physical activity by simply getting the bodies to physically move.

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Looking from the inside of the study, it goes far beyond just proving you can increase physical activity but actually getting involved in the program is a great deal in itself. It is great to know that even though the budget is limited in public schools, there are non-profit organizations that are willing to promote new ideas and proving it with research to help solve health problems that are occurring in todays society. The presentation of the research was very fulfilling in the details of previous work done and the results that came out of the study. The platform of this research shows a bright future for the children who have a chance to be the percent that are not suffering from childhood obesity.

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References

Chin, J. and Ludwig, D (2013). Increasing Childrens Physical Activity During School Recess Periods. American Journal of Public Health p. 1229-1234.