263186 Assessment of the Physical Activity Participation of Students during the School Day in a Rural County

Monday, October 29, 2012

Cheryl Gaddis, DrPH, MPH, CHES , Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA
Almost 90% of students do not meet the national recommendations for physical activity in school. Research conducted to determine physical activity levels among children under the age of 11 is limited, yet necessary to decrease the elevating rates of chronic disease.

The purpose of this study is to assess the levels of physical activity (60 minutes) provided daily and the barriers/facilitators to increasing physical activity for elementary school aged children. This project is significant in that it determines how often students engage in physical activity, but also areas where they could be engaged in more activity during the day.

The investigator used an online survey and interviews for the assessment. The study sought to answer the following questions: 1. Do the current physical activity opportunities provide 60 minutes of physical activity daily? 2. What are the barriers/facilitators associated with increasing physical activity in school? 3. What is the most effective method to increase physical activity for the school system?

Most children in grades Pre-kindergarten-5th grade have physical education class twice per week for approximately 30 minutes each day, while others have less. Barriers to providing the recommended levels include limited resources and support in various areas. The most effective method to increase physical activity for the school is system is through evidence-based classroom curricula. Incorporating physical activity into the core subjects that students engage in daily will allow movement towards achievement of the Healthy People 2020 goals and objectives related to school policies requiring daily physical education for all students.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the required and actual physical activity engagement during the school day of children in pre-k through elementary grades in a rural county. Demonstrate the need for in-class physical activity during core curriculum classes. Describe various methods by which students can engage in physical activity throughout the school day to achieve 60 minutes.

Keywords: Child Health Promotion, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-principal investigator of multiple grants related to physical activity. I have presented nationally and am co-author of a peer reviewed article related to obesity. I am a certified health educator, a doctoral student in public health and hold a masters in public health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3297.1: School Health Education Section Student Posters