The physical activity promotion component of the Kansas LEAN School Health Project was designed to increase physical activity in elementary school students through the actions of local school/community partnerships. The schools were given curriculum materials but were free to develop unique promotion efforts that met the diverse needs of their school and community. Physical activity was assessed indirectly through changes in cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength and endurance. The pacer, pushup, and curl-up tests of the FitnessGram assessment were administered to students in grades K-8 (N=3454, 49% female) each semester over four school years. Analysis of covariance, with grade level as the covariate, was used to test differences between the spring semester assessments reflecting the influence of the school environment on students that year. Students showed significant improvement in cardiovascular endurance (p<.001), upper-body (p<.001), and abdominal (p<.001) muscular strength and endurance. Therefore, it appears that physical activity promotion efforts developed by school/community partnerships to meet the specific needs of the school and its community can impact student fitness. Discussion will focus on the use of fitness testing to evaluate community interventions designed to increase youth participation in physical activity.
Learning Objectives: Session Objectives: 1. To list one practice, program, and policy that should lead to changes in youth physical activity. 2. To identify important members of a successful coalition focused on changing youth physical activity. 3. To discuss problems with using changes in fitness as an indicator of changes in physical activity in youth
Keywords: School Health, Physical Activity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.