An Evaluation of a School-based Physical Activity Program

Objective

To evaluate the effects of a school-based physical activity program on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and asthma medication use, academic performance, physical fitness and body composition.

Methods

This was a randomized controlled trial in elementary schools in the Independence, Missouri school district conducted during the 2007 to 2008 school year. Three schools were assigned to receive the physical activity program and two comparable schools served as controls. A total of 1,216 second, third and fourth grade elementary school students were included, with 657 students in the intervention and 599 in the control group. The ABC for Fitness™ program is a simple and fun physical activity program offered by teachers in the classroom. It is designed to offer structured, productive bursts of supervised physical activity spread over the course of the day, adding up to 30 minutes or more of daily physical activity.

Results

After implementing the ABC for Fitness program, school children in the intervention group showed a striking decrease in overall medication use (23.5% vs. 2.6%; p < 0.01) and asthma medication use (16.7% vs. 0%; p = 0.03) and trend level statistical significance in ADHD medication use (33.3% vs. 7.1%; p = 0.07) as compared to the children in the control group. BMI, academic performance, and physical fitness did not change.

Conclusions

Our study suggests this classroom-based physical activity program was effective in reducing asthma and ADHD medication use. The program also requires minimal time and resources, and is available to schools at no cost.