Physical activity in the classroom to prevent childhood obesity: a pilot study in Santiago, Chile
This paper describes a 4-month pilot study that tested the suitability of a physical activity intervention for first graders (children aged 6 and 7 years) in a public school in Santiago, Chile. Teachers were trained to deliver the programme in the classroom during the school day. Teachers were surve...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nutritional Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2048679017000143/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811155940253106176 |
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| author | Francisco Mardones Pilar Arnaiz Johana Soto-Sánchez Juana Saavedra Angélica Domínguez Jaime Rozowski Laura Iriarte Jennifer Cantwell Wood |
| author_facet | Francisco Mardones Pilar Arnaiz Johana Soto-Sánchez Juana Saavedra Angélica Domínguez Jaime Rozowski Laura Iriarte Jennifer Cantwell Wood |
| author_sort | Francisco Mardones |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper describes a 4-month pilot study that tested the suitability of a physical activity intervention for first graders (children aged 6 and 7 years) in a public school in Santiago, Chile. Teachers were trained to deliver the programme in the classroom during the school day. Teachers were surveyed to determine if this intervention fit within their curriculum and classroom routines and they reported in a focus group that it was suitable for them. All children actively participated in the programme and positive changes in their attitudes towards physical activity were observed by their teachers. Anthropometrics, blood pressure and hand grip strength were measured in the students. A significant reduction was observed in children with high waist circumference ≥ 90th percentile, and in mean systolic blood pressure. However, statistical power values for those comparisons were rather low. Anthropometry and hand grip strength were not modified. The latter calculations and the lack of a control group are showing the weaknesses of this pilot study and that further research with a larger sample size and an experimental design is strongly needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:42:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bd9b73c492794c798eafc376219a3e95 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2048-6790 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:42:07Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Nutritional Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-bd9b73c492794c798eafc376219a3e952023-03-09T12:38:57ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Nutritional Science2048-67902017-01-01610.1017/jns.2017.14Physical activity in the classroom to prevent childhood obesity: a pilot study in Santiago, ChileFrancisco Mardones0Pilar Arnaiz1Johana Soto-Sánchez2Juana Saavedra3Angélica Domínguez4Jaime Rozowski5Laura Iriarte6Jennifer Cantwell Wood7Department of Public Health, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Marcoleta 434, Santiago, ChileDepartment of Pediatrics, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, ChilePhysical Education, School of Exercise Science and Sport, Universidad de Playa Ancha Facultad de Ciencias de la Educacion, Valparaiso, ChileDepartment of Public Health, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Marcoleta 434, Santiago, ChileDepartment of Public Health, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Marcoleta 434, Santiago, ChileDepartment of Nutrition, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, ChileILSI Sur Andino, International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI Sur Andino), Santiago, ChileFamily Nutrition of the Triad, LLC, 1108 Grecade Street, Suite 212, Greensboro, NC 27408, USAThis paper describes a 4-month pilot study that tested the suitability of a physical activity intervention for first graders (children aged 6 and 7 years) in a public school in Santiago, Chile. Teachers were trained to deliver the programme in the classroom during the school day. Teachers were surveyed to determine if this intervention fit within their curriculum and classroom routines and they reported in a focus group that it was suitable for them. All children actively participated in the programme and positive changes in their attitudes towards physical activity were observed by their teachers. Anthropometrics, blood pressure and hand grip strength were measured in the students. A significant reduction was observed in children with high waist circumference ≥ 90th percentile, and in mean systolic blood pressure. However, statistical power values for those comparisons were rather low. Anthropometry and hand grip strength were not modified. The latter calculations and the lack of a control group are showing the weaknesses of this pilot study and that further research with a larger sample size and an experimental design is strongly needed.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2048679017000143/type/journal_articleSchool age populationPhysical activityBlood pressureWaist circumferenceBehaviourAppetiteObesity |
| spellingShingle | Francisco Mardones Pilar Arnaiz Johana Soto-Sánchez Juana Saavedra Angélica Domínguez Jaime Rozowski Laura Iriarte Jennifer Cantwell Wood Physical activity in the classroom to prevent childhood obesity: a pilot study in Santiago, Chile Journal of Nutritional Science School age population Physical activity Blood pressure Waist circumference Behaviour Appetite Obesity |
| title | Physical activity in the classroom to prevent childhood obesity: a pilot study in Santiago, Chile |
| title_full | Physical activity in the classroom to prevent childhood obesity: a pilot study in Santiago, Chile |
| title_fullStr | Physical activity in the classroom to prevent childhood obesity: a pilot study in Santiago, Chile |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical activity in the classroom to prevent childhood obesity: a pilot study in Santiago, Chile |
| title_short | Physical activity in the classroom to prevent childhood obesity: a pilot study in Santiago, Chile |
| title_sort | physical activity in the classroom to prevent childhood obesity a pilot study in santiago chile |
| topic | School age population Physical activity Blood pressure Waist circumference Behaviour Appetite Obesity |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2048679017000143/type/journal_article |
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