Study Rationale:
Currently, a significant proportion of children in Chile do not meet recommended physical activity levels, which may adversely affect their health and development. The school environment provides an ideal setting to promote healthy habits. This study was designed to evaluate whether a school-based program incorporating physical activity, sports, and health education can improve physical fitness and increase the time children dedicate to physical activity practice.
Objective:
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of a two-year school-based intervention on physical activity levels, muscular fitness (measured by upper body, lower body, and abdominal muscular strength), and sports participation among Chilean schoolchildren.
How the study works:
This is a single-arm cluster intervention study incorporating a pre-post design. Participating schools were allocated in a specialized program focused on physical activity and the promotion of sports practice throughout two school years.
What was measured:
At baseline and after the two-year intervention, the following outcomes were assessed:
Physical Activity Levels: Measured via accelerometry; Muscular Fitness: Assessed through muscular strength tests, including upper limb strength (handgrip strength using a dynamometer), lower limb strength (standing long jump test), and abdominal strength (60-second curl-up test).
Sports Participation: Evaluated through self-reports of involvement in organized sports.
Researchers compared pre- and post-intervention data between the intervention to determine if children in the special program showed significantly greater improvements compared to those in the standard routine.