A 10-Month Physical Activity Intervention Improves Body Composition in Young Black Boys Walking or bicycling to school and weight status among adolescents from Montería, Colombia. A school-based physical activity program to improve health and fitness in children aged 6–13 years ("Kinder-Sportstudie KISS"): study design of a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN15360785] Impact of a school-based physical activity intervention on fitness and bone in adolescent females. Cross sectional analysis of the association between mode of school transportation and physical fitness in children and adolescents Relations of moderate and vigorous physical activity to fitness and fatness in adolescents. Preliminary findings of the effect of a 3-year after-school physical activity intervention on fitness and body fat: the Medical College of Georgia Fitkid Project. SPACE for physical activity - a multicomponent intervention study: study design and baseline findings from a cluster randomized controlled trial Improvement of fitness, body composition, and insulin sensitivity in overweight children in a school-based exercise program: a randomized, controlled study. Strength Training and Physical Activity in Boys: a Randomized Trial Physical training of school children with spastic cerebral palsy: effects on daily activity, fat mass and fitness Rationale and study protocol for the supporting children’s outcomes using rewards, exercise and skills (SCORES) group randomized controlled trial: A physical activity and fundamental movement skills intervention for primary schools in low-income communities Improving the fitness and physical activity levels of primary school children: results of the Fit-4-Fun group randomized controlled trial. School-based fitness changes are lost during the summer vacation. A comprehensive physical activity promotion programme at elementary school: the effects on physical activity, physical fitness and psychosocial correlates of physical activity. Protective Effect of Aerobic Physical Activity on Sleep Behavior in Breast Cancer Survivors Classroom-based physical activity improves children’s math achievement – A randomized controlled trial Influence of extracurricular sport activities on body composition and physical fitness in boys: a 3-year longitudinal study The impact of physical activity on fatigue and quality of life in lung cancer patients: a randomised controlled trial protocol Examining the impact of 45 minutes of daily physical education on cognitive ability, fitness performance, and body composition of African American youth. Physical activity and skills intervention: SCORES cluster randomized controlled trial. Effect on Physical Activity of a Randomized Afterschool Intervention for Inner City Children in 3rd to 5th Grade Relationships among fitness, body composition, and physical activity.
Objective . To determine if a 10-month after-school physical activity ( PA ) intervention could prevent deleterious changes in body composition and cardiovascular ( CV ) fitness in young black boys . Methods . Following baseline measures , 106 boys ( 8–12 yrs ) were r and omized to either a control group or an intervention group , further divided into attenders ( ATT ) and nonattenders ( NATT ) , participating in ≥60 % or < 60 % of the intervention , respectively . The daily intervention consisted of skills development ( 25 min ) , vigorous PA ( VPA , 35 min ) , and strengthening/stretching ( 20 min ) components . Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . Results . Following the intervention , the ATT exhibited an increase in moderate-to-vigorous PA and a significant reduction in BMI , fat mass , and % BF compared to the control group . A significant association among the intervention energy expenditure and changes in body composition and CV fitness was observed only in the ATT group . Conclusion . An after-school PA program of sufficient length and intensity can promote healthy changes in body composition and fitness levels in black boys who attend at least 3 days/week BACKGROUND Active school transport ( AST ) is a recommended strategy to promote physical activity ( PA ) and prevent overweight ( OW ) in school-aged children . In many developing countries , such as Colombia , this association has not been well characterized . OBJECTIVE To determine the association between AST and weight status in a representative sample of adolescents from Montería , Colombia . METHODS Participants were 546 adolescents ( 278 boys ) aged 11 to 18 years old from 14 r and omly selected schools in Montería , Colombia in 2008 . The PA module of the Global School Health Survey ( GSHS-2007 ) was used to determine the prevalence of AST . To identify OW , participants were classified according to CDC 2000 criteria ( BMI ≥ 85th percentile ) . Association between AST and OW was determined by binomial logistic regression . RESULTS Odds ratios adjusted for age , sex , location of school , compliance with PA , and screen time recommendations showed that adolescents who reported AST had a significantly lower likelihood to be OW compared with adolescents who reported nonactive transportation ( OR = 0.5 , 95 % CI 0.3 - 0.8 , P < .05 ) . CONCLUSIONS These results support the importance of AST as a useful PA domain with potential implication s for overweight prevention , in rapidly developing setting s. Further epidemiologic and intervention studies addressing AST are needed in the region Background Childhood obesity is the result of a long lasting imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure . A major contributing factor is physical inactivity which is closely linked to bone health , cardiovascular disease risk , fitness and psychological factors . The school seems to provide an excellent setting to enhance levels of  physical activity ( PA ) .  However , there is insufficient data from previous school-based intervention trials on how to enhance overall PA . It is also unknown whether an intervention aim ed at increasing PA is effective in improving the children 's health . The purpose of this paper is to outline the design of a school-based r and omized , controlled trial ( RCT ) aim ing to increase overall PA and to improve fitness and health in 6- to 13-year-old children . Methods / Design 15 schools were r and omized to the intervention ( n = 9 ) or the control ( n = 6 ) group , stratified by geographic region ( urban vs. rural ) and by age ( 1st and 5th grade ) . Participation was given for all children in the intervention group since in this group the intervention was part of the normal school curriculum . The intervention during one academic year consisted of : 1 . two additional physical education classes per week given by trained physical education teachers adding up to a total of five PA classes per week , 2 . short PA breaks ( 2–5 min each ) during academic lessons , 3 . PA home work , and 4 . adaptation of recreational areas around the school . All children underwent  anthropometric measurements , blood pressure assessment , fitness testing , measurement of PA  and they filled out question naires . At least 70 % of all children agreed to blood sampling and measurements of body composition and bone mineral measurements by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry . The primary endpoints of the study after one year were an increase in total PA by accelerometry , an increase in aerobic fitness measured by the 20 m shuttle run , a decrease in percent body fat derived from skinfold measurements and an increase in quality of life as assessed by the child health question naire in the intervention group compared to the control group . Secondary outcomes were overall fitness , differences in body composition including body fat distribution , cardiovascular risk factors , psychosocial health , bone mineral content and density of femur , lumbar spine and total body and food intake . Discussion Our preliminary data suggest that the children were representative of Swiss children with respect to sex , socio-demographic status , and body mass index . Short-term results can be expected by the beginning of 2007 . We hypothesized that our intervention will lead to an increase in PA , fitness and overall health . Based on our data , we aim to provide important information regarding the influence of such an intervention on these outcome measures in school-aged children and to provide nationwide guidelines to improve PA in children BACKGROUND Many female adolescents participate in insufficient physical activity to maintain cardiovascular fitness and promote optimal bone growth . This study evaluates the impact of a school-based intervention on fitness , activity , and bone among adolescent females . METHODS Subjects were assigned to an  intervention ( n = 63 ) or comparison ( n = 59 ) group , and underwent assessment s of  cardiovascular fitness ( VO2peak )  , physical activity , body composition , bone mineral density ( BMD ) , bone mineral content ( BMC ) , and serum markers of bone turnover  at baseline and at the end of each of two school semesters . RESULTS The intervention increased physical activity , VO2peak , and BMC for the thoracic spine ( P values < 0.05 ) . Bone turnover markers were not affected . In longitudinal analyses of the combined groups , improvements in cardiovascular fitness predicted increased bone formation ( P < 0.01 ) and bone resorption ( P < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION A school-based intervention for adolescent females effectively increased physical activity , cardiovascular fitness , and thoracic spine BMC Objective To investigate the associations between body composition , cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in relation to travel mode to school in children and adolescents . Method Children and adolescents from 40 elementary schools and 23 high schools representing all regions in Norway were invited to participate in the study . Anthropometry , cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness  were tested at the school location . Question naires were used in order to register mode of transport to school , age , gender and levels of leisure time physical activity . Results A total of 1694 ( i.e. 60 % of all invited participants ) children and adolescents at a mean age of 9.6 and 15.6 respectively ( SD = 0.4 for both groups ) were analyzed for associations with physical fitness variables . Males cycling to school had lower sum of skin folds than adolescents walking to school . Higher cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents and male cyclists compared to walkers and passive commuters were observed . Among children , cycling and walking to school , higher isometric muscle endurance in the back extensors compared to passive commuters was observed . Conclusion Based on this national representative cross-sectional examination of r and omly selected children and adolescents there is evidence that active commuting , especially cycling , is associated with a favourable body composition and better cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness as compared to passive commuting BACKGROUND It is unclear how moderate and vigorous intensities of physical activity ( PA ) are associated with cardiovascular fitness ( CVF ) and percentage of body fat ( % BF ) in adolescents . OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that vigorous PA , to a greater degree than moderate PA , would be associated with better CVF and lower % BF . DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study of 421 black and white high school students ( x age : 16 y ) .  PA was measured with 5 d of accelerometry and expressed in min/d of moderate or vigorous PA .  CVF was measured with a multistage treadmill test and was expressed as the oxygen consumption at a heart rate of 170 bpm . % BF was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . Multiple regressions were used to determine the degree to which variance in CVF and % BF was explained by PA , after control for age , sex , race , and the sex x race interaction . RESULTS A higher index for CVF was associated with higher amounts of moderate and vigorous PA ;  more variance was explained by vigorous than by moderate PA .  Lower % BF was associated with higher amounts of vigorous PA but not with the amount of moderate PA . CONCLUSION Black and white adolescents who engaged in relatively large amounts of free-living vigorous exercise were likely to be relatively fit and lean OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of a 3-year after-school physical activity ( PA ) intervention on aerobic fitness and percent body fat ( % BF ) . METHODS In total , 18 schools were r and omized into intervention or control arms . Measurements were made at the beginning and end of the third , fourth and fifth grade s. Fitness was measured with heart rate response to a bench-stepping task.%BF and bone density were measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry . The intervention included 40 min of academic enrichment activities , during which healthy snacks were provided , and 80 min of moderate-to-vigorous PA ( MVPA ) . RESULTS Data analyses were performed on 206 youths who remained in the same schools for the 3-year period , who were measured at all six time points and , for the intervention group , who attended at least 40 % of the sessions in each of the 3 years . The group by time interactions were significant for fitness ( p < 0.01 ) and % BF ( p < 0.05 ) . Children in intervention schools improved in fitness and % BF during the school years and returned to levels similar to those in control schools during the summers . Over the six measurement points , the intervention group increased more than the control group in bone density ( p < 0.01 ) , fat-free soft tissue ( p < 0.01 ) , weight ( p < 0.01 ) , height ( p < 0.01 ) , and body mass index ( p < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS An after-school program focusing on MVPA had a beneficial effect on fitness and body composition . During the summers , the beneficial effect of the previous year 's participation on fitness and % BF was lost . This highlights the importance of year-round programs to promote healthy growth in youths Background The aim of the School site , Play Spot , Active transport , Club fitness and Environment ( SPACE ) Study was to develop , document , and assess a comprehensive intervention in local school districts that promote everyday physical activity ( PA ) among 11 - 15-year-old adolescents . The study is based on a social ecological framework , and is design ed to implement organizational and structural changes in the physical environment . Methods / design The SPACE Study used a cluster r and omized controlled study design . Twenty-one eligible schools in the Region of Southern Denmark were matched and r and omized in seven pairs according to eight matching variables summarized in an audit tool ( crow-fly distance from residence to school for 5 - 6th grade rs ; area household income ; area education level ; area ethnicity distribution ; school district urbanity ; condition and characteristics of school outdoor areas ; school health policy ; and active transport in the local area ) . Baseline measurements with accelerometers , question naires , diaries , and physical fitness tests  were obtained in Spring 2010 in 5 - 6th grade in 7 intervention and 7 control schools , with follow-up measurements to be taken in Spring 2012 in 7 - 8th grade . The primary outcome measure is objective average daily physical activity and will be supported by analyses of time spent in moderate to vigorous activity and time spent sedentary . Other secondary outcome measures will be obtained , such as , overweight , physical fitness , active commuting to/from school and physical activity in recess periods . Discussion A total of 1348 adolescents in 5 - 6th grade in the Region of Southern Denmark participated at baseline ( n = 14 schools ) . The response rate was high in all type of measurements ( 72.6 - 97.4 % ) . There were no significant differences between intervention and control groups at baseline according to selected background variables and outcome measures : gender ( p = .54 ) , age ( p = .17 ) , BMI ( p = .59 ) , waist circumference ( p = .17 ) , physical fitness ( p = .93 ) , and physical activity ( accelerometer ) ( p = .09).The r and omization and matched pair design produced equivalent groups according to central outcome measures and background variables . The SPACE for physical activity Study will provide new insights on the effectiveness of multicomponent interventions to improve adolescents ' physical activity level . Trial registration Current Controlled Trials IS RCT BACKGROUND Obesity and poor physical fitness constitute a health problem affecting an increasing number of children . Causes include a pervasive " toxic " environment that facilitates increased caloric intake and reduced physical activity . An effective strategy for prevention and treatment of childhood obesity likely includes a collaborative effort in the school setting . OBJECTIVE To determine whether a school-based fitness program can improve body composition , cardiovascular fitness level , and insulin sensitivity in overweight children . DESIGN Fifty overweight middle school children with a body mass index ( BMI ) above the 95th percentile for age were r and omized to lifestyle-focused , fitness-oriented gym classes ( treatment group ) or st and ard gym classes ( control group ) for 9 months . Children underwent evaluation of  fasting insulin and glucose levels , body composition by means of  dual energy absorptiometry , and maximum oxygen consumption ( V0(2)max ) treadmill testing  at baseline ( before the school year ) and at end of the school year . SETTING S Rural middle school and an academic children 's hospital . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Baseline test results for cardiovascular fitness , body composition , and fasting insulin and glucose levels . RESULTS At baseline , there were no differences between groups before intervention ( values for age , 12 + /- 0.5 years [ all results , mean + /- SD ] ; BMI [ calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters ] , 31.0 + /- 3.7 ; percentage of body fat , 36.5 % + /- 4.6 % ; lean body mass , 41.4 + /- 8.6 kg ; and V0(2)max , 31.5 + /- 5.1 mL/kg per minute ) . Compared with the control group , the treatment group demonstrated a significantly greater loss of body fat ( loss , -4.1 % + /- 3.4 % vs -1.9 % + /- 2.3 % ; P = .04 ) , greater increase in cardiovascular fitness ( V0(2)max , 2.7 + /- 2.6 vs 0.4 + /- 3.3 mL/kg per minute ; P<.001 ) , and greater improvement in fasting insulin level ( insulin level , -5.1 + /- 5.2 vs 3.0 + /- 14.3 microIU/mL [ -35.4 + /- 36.1 vs 20.8 + /- 99.3 pmol/L ] ; P = .02 ) . CONCLUSIONS Children enrolled in fitness-oriented gym classes showed greater loss of body fat , increase in cardiovascular fitness , and improvement in fasting insulin levels than control subjects . The modification to the school physical education curriculum demonstrates that small but consistent changes in the amount of physical activity has beneficial effects on body composition , fitness , and insulin levels in children . Partnering with school districts should be a part of a public health approach to improving the health of overweight children BACKGROUND : In developed societies levels of daily physical activity ( PA ) among school-age children are decreasing . This implies risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases . Specific strategies to improve levels of PA are needed . In prepubertal boys there is evidence that strength training increases spontaneous PA outside of training . METHODS : A total of 102 schoolchildren ( age 10–14 years ) in Switzerl and were r and omly assigned to  physical education classes or to participate twice weekly at a guided strength training program for 19 weeks  . Spontaneous PA energy expenditure ( PAEE ; 3axial accelerometry for 7 days ) , leg and arm strength , and body composition ( dual energy radiograph absorptiometry ) were measured at baseline , after 19 weeks of training intervention , and after 3 months of washout . RESULTS : There were no significant differences between the groups at baseline . In the intervention group , PAEE increased by 10 % from baseline to end of training in boys ( P = .02 ) , but not in girls . Leg and arm strength were increased owing to training intervention in both boys and girls . All other variables were unchanged . Baseline PAEE was significantly negatively correlated with changes of PAEE . CONCLUSIONS : Targeted strength training significantly increases daily spontaneous PA behavior in boys . The less active children showed the greatest increase in spontaneous PAEE . Girls showed a similar increase in strength , but not in spontaneous PAEE . This may be explained by their earlier pubertal development . Strength training may be a promising strategy in schools to counteract decreasing levels of PA Effects of two 9-month sports programmes ( four or two sessions per week ) on level of daily physical activity ( PA ) , fat mass ( FM ) , and physical fitness were assessed in children with spastic cerebral palsy ( CP ; n = 20 , 9.2 + /- 1.4 yr ) , r and omly assigned to an experimental and control group after matching . Four sessions per week tended to increase PA ratio ( 24-h energy expenditure/sleeping ( resting ) energy expenditure ) after 9 months from 1.34 + /- 0.25 to 1.55 + /- 0.18 ( P = 0.07 ; not different versus controls ) . FM increased continuously in the control group ( after 9 months + 1.1 + /- 1.6 kg , P < 0.05 ) , whereas the experimental groups showed no changes . Training ( respectively four and two sessions ) increased peak aerobic power 35 % ( P < 0.01 ; P < 0.05 versus controls ) and 21 % ( P < 0.01 ; P = 0.17 versus controls ) . Results also suggest that training has a favourable effect on isokinetic muscle strength . No training-related effects were found on anaerobic power . It was concluded that although aerobic training has a limited effect on PA in children with CP , it may prevent deterioration in body composition and muscle strength . Furthermore , training has a favourable effect on peak aerobic power Background Many Australian children are insufficiently active to accrue health benefits and physical activity ( PA ) levels are consistently lower among youth of low socio-economic position .  PA levels decline dramatically during adolescence and evidence suggests that competency in a range of fundamental movement skills ( FMS ) may serve as a protective factor against this trend . Methods / design The Supporting Children ’s Outcomes Using Rewards Exercise and Skills ( SCORES ) intervention is a multi-component PA and FMS intervention for primary schools in low-income communities , which will be evaluated using a group r and omized controlled trial . The socio-ecological model provided a framework for the 12-month intervention , which includes the following components : teacher professional learning , student leadership workshops ( including leadership accreditation and rewards , e.g. , stickers , water bottles ) , PA policy review , PA equipment packs , parental engagement via newsletters , FMS homework and a parent evening , and community partnerships with local sporting organizations . Outcomes will be assessed at baseline , 6- and 12-months . The primary outcomes are PA ( accelerometers ) , FMS ( Test of Gross Motor Development II ) and cardiorespiratory fitness ( multi-stage fitness test ) . Secondary outcomes include body mass index [ using weight (kg)/height ( m2 ) ] , perceived competence , physical self-esteem , and resilience . Individual and environmental mediators of behavior change ( e.g. social support and enjoyment ) will also be assessed . The System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time will be used to assess the impact of the intervention on PA within physical education lessons . Statistical analyses will follow intention-to-treat principles and hypothesized mediators of PA behavior change will be explored . Discussion SCORES is an innovative primary school-based PA and FMS intervention design ed to support students attending schools in low-income communities to be more skilled and active . The findings from the study may be used to guide teacher pre-service education , professional learning and school policy in primary schools . Trial registration Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry No : OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of a multi-component school-based physical activity intervention ( Fit-4-Fun ) on health-related fitness and objective ly measured physical activity in primary school children . METHODS Four Hunter primary schools were recruited in April , 2011 and r and omized by school into treatment or control conditions . Participants included 213 children ( mean age = 10.72 years ± 0.6 ; 52.2 % female ) with the treatment group ( n = 118 ) completing the 8-week Fit-4-Fun Program . Participants were assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up , with a 91 % retention rate . Cardio-respiratory fitness ( CRF ) ( 20 m shuttle run ) was the primary outcome , and secondary outcomes included body composition ( BMI , BMI ( Z ) ) , muscular fitness ( 7-stage sit-up test , push-up test , basketball throw test , St and ing Jump ) , flexibility ( sit and reach ) and physical activity ( 7 days pedometry ) . RESULTS After 6-months , significant treatment effects were found for CRF ( adjusted mean difference , 1.14 levels , p < 0.001 ) , body composition ( BMI mean , -0.96 kg/m(2 ) , p < 0.001 and BMI z-score mean -0.47 z-scores , p < 0.001 ) , flexibility ( sit and reach mean , 1.52 cm , p = 0.0013 ) , muscular fitness ( sit-ups ) ( mean 0.62 stages , p = 0.003 ) and physical activity ( mean , 3253 steps/day , p < 0.001 ) . There were no group by time effects for the other muscular fitness measures . CONCLUSIONS A primary school-based intervention focusing on fitness education significantly improved health-related fitness and physical activity levels in children OBJECTIVE To determine the changes in percentage of body fat , cardiovascular fitness , and insulin levels during the 3-month summer break in overweight children enrolled in a school-based fitness program . STUDY DESIGN Overweight middle-school children were r and omized to a lifestyle-focused physical education class ( treatment ) or st and ard physical education class ( control ) for 1 school year ( 9 months ; previously reported ) . This analysis reports changes during the 3-month summer break in children who participated in the fitness intervention group and who remained at this school the following year and repeated a fitness class . At the beginning and end of the school year , children underwent evaluation of ( 1 ) fasting levels of insulin and glucose , ( 2 ) body composition by means of dual x-ray absorptiometry , and ( 3 ) maximum oxygen consumption as determined by treadmill use . SETTING Rural middle school and an academic children 's hospital . PARTICIPANTS Overweight middle-school children . INTERVENTION School-based fitness curriculum , followed by summer break , and an additional year of school-based fitness intervention . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cardiovascular fitness test results ( maximum oxygen consumption ) , body composition , and fasting insulin levels . RESULTS Improvements seen during the 9-month school-year intervention in cardiovascular fitness , fasting insulin levels , and body composition were lost during the 3-month summer break . During this summer break , mean + /- SD fitness level decreased ( maximum oxygen consumption , -3.2 + /- 1.9 mL/kg per minute ; P = .007 ) , fasting insulin level increased ( + 44 + /- 69 pmol/L [ + 6.1 + /- 9.7 mIU/mL ] ; P = .056 ) , and percentage of body fat increased ( + 1.3 % + /- 1.3 % ; P = .02 ) to levels that were similar to those seen before the school intervention . CONCLUSION In obese middle-school children , school-based fitness interventions are an important vehicle for health promotion , but without sustained intervention , these benefits may be lost during the extended summer break OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a comprehensive physical activity ( PA ) promotion programme in elementary schools on children 's total PA levels , leisure-time PA , physical fitness and psychosocial correlates of PA . DESIGN A pre-test-post-test design over two school years . SETTING AND SUBJECTS Sixteen elementary schools ( 764 children , mean age : 11.2 + /- 0.7 years ) were r and omly assigned to the intervention condition ( n = 8) and the control condition ( n = 8) . The intervention included a health-related physical education programme , an extracurricular PA promotion programme and classroom-based PA education lessons . In the total sample , leisure-time PA , psychosocial correlates of PA and physical fitness were measured using a PA question naire and the Eurofit test battery . In a sub- sample , total PA levels were measured using an accelerometer . RESULTS According to accelerometer data , children 's moderate PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA ( MVPA ) levels decreased less in the intervention schools than in the control schools ( P < 0.01 ) . The average time spent on MVPA decreased by 9 min per day in the intervention schools compared with 33 min per day in the control schools . Children in the intervention schools reported significantly more moderate PA in leisure time than the controls ( P < 0.05 ) . No overall improvement of physical fitness and no effects on the psychosocial correlates of PA were found . CONCLUSIONS The comprehensive PA promotion programme was successful in preventing a decline in children 's  total activity levels . Furthermore , the intervention increased children 's PA engagement in leisure time . Therefore , implementation needs to be encouraged Hypotheses . Sleep disorders are associated with an increased risk of cancer , including breast cancer ( BC ) .  Physical activity ( PA ) can produce beneficial effects on sleep . Study design . We design ed a r and omized controlled trial to test the effect of 3 months of physical activity on sleep and circadian rhythm activity level evaluated by actigraphy . Methods . 40 BC women , aged 35 - 70 years , were r and omized into an intervention ( IG ) and a control group ( CG ) . IG performed a 3 month of aerobic exercise . At baseline and after 3 months , the following parameters were evaluated both for IG and CG : anthropometric and body composition measurements , energy expenditure and motion level ; sleep parameters ( Actual Sleep Time-AST , Actual Wake Time-AWT , Sleep Efficiency-SE , Sleep Latency-SL , Mean Activity Score-MAS , Movement and Fragmentation Index-MFI and Immobility Time-IT ) and activity level circadian rhythm using the Actigraph Actiwatch . Results . The CG showed a deterioration of sleep , whereas the IG showed a stable pattern . In the CG the SE , AST and IT decreased and the AWT , SL , MAS and MFI increased . In the IG , the SE , IT , AWT , SL , and MAS showed no changes and AST and MFI showed a less pronounced change in the IG than in the CG . The rhythmometric analysis revealed a significant circadian rhythm in two groups . After 3 months of PA , IG showed reduced fat mass % , while CG had improved weight and BMI . Conclusion . Physical activity may be beneficial against sleep disruption . Indeed , PA prevented sleep worsening in IG . PA can represent an integrative intervention therapy able to modify sleep behaviour This RCT investigated the effect on children of integrating  physical activity ( PA )  into math lessons . The primary outcome was math achievement and the secondary outcomes were executive functions , fitness and body mass index .  Twelve Danish schools were r and omized to either an intervention group or a control group . A total of 505 children with mean age 7.2 ± 0.3 years were enrolled in the study . Change in math achievement was measured by a 45-minute st and ardized math test , change in executive function by a modified Eriksen flanker task , aerobic fitness by the And ersen intermittent shuttle-run test , and body mass index by st and ard procedures .  PA  during the math lessons and total PA ( including time spent outside school )  were assessed using accelerometry ( ActiGraph , GT3X and GT3X+ ) . Children in the intervention group improved their math score by 1.2 ( 95 % CI 0.3 ; 2.1 ) more than the control group ( p = 0.011 ) and had a tendency towards a higher change in physical activity level during math lessons of 120,4 counts/min ( 95 % CI -9.0;249.8.2 , p = 0.067 ) . However , the intervention did not affect executive functions , fitness or body mass index . Participation in a 9-month PA intervention ( from 2012–2013 ) improved math achievement among elementary school children . If replicated , these findings would suggest that implementation of physical activity in school setting s could lead to higher academic achievement Objective : To analyse the effect of extracurricular physical activities on fat mass accumulation and physical fitness during growth in early pubertal males . Design : Longitudinal study .Subjects : A total of 42 male children ( 9.4±1.4 years , Tanner I – II and 12.7±1.5 years , Tanner III – IV , before and after the 3.3 years follow-up , respectively ) , r and omly sample d from the population of Gran Canaria ( Spain ) , 26 of them physically active ( PA , at least 3 h per week during 3 years ) and 16 non-physically active ( non-PA ) . Measurements : Body composition ( dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry ) , anthropometrics ( body circumferences and skinfolds ) and physical fitness variables ( dynamic and isometric force , anaerobic capacity and maximal aerobic power ) were determined in all subjects . Results : Both groups had comparable body sizes at the start and the end of the study . Body mass index increased with growth more in the PA than in the non-PA group ( P<0.05 ) . However , fat mass accumulation with growth was lower in the PA than in the non-PA ( P<0.05 ) . There was a positive relationship between the increment of total and trunkal fat mass , especially in non-active children ( r 2=0.93 ) . In contrast , there was an inverse relationship between the total lean mass growth and the accumulation of total and regional fat mass ( r=−0.37 to −0.41 , all P<0.05 ) . Physical fitness was maintained in the PA , while it worsened in the non-PA children . Conclusions : Without any dietary intervention , children who regularly participate in at least 3 h per week of sports activities are more protected against total and regional fat mass accumulation . They also increase their total lean and bone mass to a greater extent than children who do not participate in extracurricular sport activities . In addition , PA children maintain their physical fitness during growth , while it deteriorates in the non-PA children Background People with lung cancer have substantial symptom burden and more unmet needs than the general cancer population . Physical activity ( PA ) has been shown to positively influence quality of life ( QOL ) , fatigue and daily functioning in the curative treatment of people with breast and colorectal cancers and lung diseases , as well as in palliative setting s. A r and omised controlled trial ( RCT ) is needed to determine if lung cancer patients benefit from structured PA intervention . The Physical Activity in Lung Cancer ( PAL ) trial is design ed to evaluate the impact of a 2-month PA intervention on fatigue and QOL in patients with non-resectable lung cancer . Biological mechanisms will also be studied . Methods / design A multi-centre RCT with patients r and omised to usual care or a 2-month PA programme  , involving supervised PA sessions including a behavioural change component and home-based PA . QOL question naires , disease and functional status and body composition will be assessed at baseline , 2 , 4 and 6 months follow-up . The primary endpoint is comparative levels of fatigue between the 2 arms . Secondary endpoints include : QOL , functional abilities and physical function . Exploratory endpoints include : anxiety , depression , distress , dyspnoea , PA behaviour , fitness , hospitalisations , survival , cytokines and insulin-like growth factor levels . Discussion This study will provide high-level evidence of the effect of PA programmes on cancer-related fatigue and QOL in patients with advanced lung cancer . If positive , the study has the potential to change care for people with cancer using a simple , inexpensive intervention to improve their QOL and help them maintain independent function for as long as possible . Trial registration Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry No. OBJECT Increased importance on academic achievement has result ed in many school districts focusing on improved academic performance leading to reductions in physical education time . The purpose was to examine the effects of 45 minutes of daily physical education on the cognitive ability , fitness performance and body composition of African American elementary and middle school youth . METHODS Participants completing the informed consent in grade s 2nd to 8th were included in the study . A pre/posttest design was used with repeated measures analysis of variance . Experimental and control school participants were pretested on the  cognitive measures ( ie , Fluid Intelligence and Perceptual Speed ) and Fitnessgram ® physical fitness test items ( eg , aerobic capacity , muscular strength and muscular endurance , body composition ) in September 2009 and posttested in May 2010 . RESULTS Experimental elementary and middle school participants observed significantly greater improvements compared with control elementary and middle school participants on 7 of 16 fitness and body composition measures and on 8 of 26 cognitive measures . These fitness , body composition , and cognitive improvement differences were more noticeable among elementary and middle school females . CONCLUSIONS Providing 45 minutes of daily physical education can perhaps increase cognitive ability while increasing fitness and decreasing the prevalence of overweight and obese youth PURPOSE  Physical activity ( PA  ) declines dramatically during adolescence , and activity levels are consistently lower among children living in low-income communities . Competency in a range of fundamental movement skills ( FMS ) may serve as a protective factor against the decline in PA typically observed during adolescence . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 12-month multicomponent PA and FMS intervention on children attending primary schools in low-income communities . METHODS The Supporting Children 's Outcomes using Rewards , Exercise , and Skills intervention was evaluated using a cluster r and omized controlled trial . The sample included 25 classes from eight primary schools located in low-income communities . Participants were 460 children ( 54.1 % girls ) age 8.5 ± 0.6 yr . Primary outcomes were objective ly measured PA ( ActiGraph GT3X and GT3X+ accelerometers ) , FMS competency ( Test of Gross Motor Development 2 , six locomotor and six object control skills ) , and cardiorespiratory fitness ( 20-m multistage fitness test ) assessed at baseline , midprogram ( 6-months ) , and at posttest ( 12 months ) . Linear mixed models , adjusted for sex , age , body mass index z-score , socioeconomic status , ethnicity , and school class as a r and om factor , were used to assess the effect of the intervention . RESULTS At midprogram , there were no significant intervention effects for any of the outcomes . At posttest ( study 's primary time point ) , there were intervention effects for daily moderate-to-vigorous PA ( MVPA ) ( adjusted mean difference , 12.7 min·d of MVPA ; 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) , 5.0 - 20.5 ) , overall FMS competency ( 4.9 units ; 95 % CI , -0.04 to 9.8 ) , and cardiorespiratory fitness ( 5.4 laps ; 95 % CI , 2.3 - 8.6 ) . CONCLUSIONS A school-based multicomponent PA and FMS intervention maintained daily MVPA , improved overall FMS competency , and increased cardiorespiratory fitness among children attending primary schools in low-income communities Background Less than 45 % of U.S. children meet the 60 min.d-1 physical activity ( PA ) guideline . Structured after-school PA programing is one approach to help increase activity levels . This study aim ed to evaluate the feasibility and short-term impact of a supervised after-school PA and nutrition education program on activity levels . Methods Forty-two 3rd-5th grade rs from an inner-city school in Boston , MA were r and omly assigned to a 10-wk after-school program of either : 1 ) weekly nutrition education  , or 2 ) weekly nutrition education plus supervised PA 3 d.wk-1 at a community-based center . At baseline and follow-up , PA was measured using accelerometry and fitness ( VO2max ) was estimated using the PACER 15-m shuttle run . Additional measures obtained were non-fasting finger stick total cholesterol ( TC ) and glucose levels , waist circumference ( WC ) , body mass index ( BMI ) , percent body fat ( % BF ) , and blood pressure ( BP ) . Values are presented as mean±SE , unless noted otherwise . Results Thirty-six participants completed the study ( mean±SD ; age 9.7±0.9 years ) . Participants attended > 80 % of the sessions . After adjusting for accelerometer wear time and other design factors , light and moderate-to-vigorous PA ( MVPA ) increased in the nutrition+PA group ( + 21.5±14.5 and + 8.6±8.0 min.d-1 , respectively ) and decreased in the nutrition only group ( -35.2±16.3 and -16.0±9.0 min.d-1 , respectively ) ; mean difference between groups of 56.8±21.7 min.d-1 ( light PA , p = 0.01 ) and 24.5±12.0 min.d-1 ( MVPA , p = 0.04 ) . Time spent in sedentary behaviors declined in the nutrition+PA group ( -14.8±20.7 min.d-1 ) and increased in the nutrition only group ( + 55.4±23.2 min.d-1 ) ; mean difference between groups of -70.2±30.9 min.d-1 ( p = 0.02 ) . Neither group showed changes in TC , BP , WC , % BF , BMI percentile , or fitness ( p>0.05 ) . Conclusions The supervised afterschool community-based nutrition and PA program was well accepted and had high attendance . The changes in light PA and MVPA has potential to promote weight maintenance in inner-city elementary school children , however longer term studies with larger sample s are needed . Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov PURPOSE This study was design ed to examine the associations of physical activity and body composition with cardiorespiratory fitness in eighth grade girls . METHODS A r and om sample of 1440 eighth grade girls at 36 schools participated in this cross-sectional investigation , which represented an ethnically and geographically diverse group .  Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using a modified physical work capacity test on a cycle ergometer that predicted workload at a heart rate of 170 beats.min . Physical activity was assessed over 6 d in each girl using an accelerometer and body composition was estimated from body mass index and triceps skinfolds using a previously vali date d equation . Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to determine the relationships among fitness , physical activity , and body composition . RESULTS Significant linear relationships among cardiorespiratory fitness , body composition , and physical activity were found . The combination of fat and fat-free mass along with racial group and a race by fat-free-mass interaction accounted for 18 % ( R ) of the variation in physical fitness . Adding moderate-to-vigorous physical activity to the regression model increased the R to 22 % . Black girls had somewhat lower fitness levels ( P < 0.05 ) especially at higher levels of fat and fat-free mass than other racial/ethnic groups . CONCLUSIONS Physical activity , fat-free mass , and the interaction between fat-free mass and racial group are significantly associated with cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescent girls
These findings suggest that AST should be promoted to increase PA levels in children and adolescents and that cycling to/ from school is associated with increased cardiovascular fitness .
BACKGROUND The impact of  active school transport ( AST )  on daily physical activity ( PA ) levels , body composition and cardiovascular fitness remains unclear .