Background and Purpose
Schools have the capability to be an ‘active community’ by implementing physical activity policies to combat the childhood obesity epidemic.
Objectives
The purpose of this natural experiment mixed methods study was to investigate the implementation of state and school mandated physical activity policies on students’ school day physical activity behaviors.
Methods
684 school-age children (343 girls; mean age = 8.2 ± 1.8 years) from five elementary schools in Alabama participated in the study. Students’ school day physical activity behaviors were assessed with pedometer step count, Systems for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT) and System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY).
Results
Based on BMI, 16% of the children were classified as overweight and 27% as obese. The average waist circumference was 67.46 + 12.82 cm. Students accumulated an average of 9.75 and 8.29 steps/min for boys and girls, respectively, throughout the school day. SOFIT and SOPLAY findings indicate that students spent an average of 23.84 + 3.91 mins in Physical Education (PE), and 14.32 + 6.10 mins were spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity; no recess was provided. School policies primarily reflected physical PE requirements and written school policy did not differ between schools. School officials and teachers stated the importance of PE and physical activity during school hours, but all schools demonstrated limited or no physical activity opportunities before, during, or after school. Furthermore, school officials and teachers could not reiterate any of the school’s physical activity policies, except for “students have to go to PE”. Most schools did met or exceed Alabama’s state PE requirements (i.e., daily, physical education for a minimum of 30 minutes per day by a certified PE instructor) on their school schedule. However, over the course of the study, PE was canceled or shortened approximately 22% of the time due to assemblies, disciplinary actions, or other school activities.
Conclusions
It appears that state mandated policies encourage schools to implement PE. However, the implementation of PE as the sole physical activity opportunity provides inadequate amounts of physical activity during the school day. Thus, for schools to be an ‘active community’, they must incorporate and implement policies that give children the opportunity to move and be physically active throughout the school day.
Support / Funding Source
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – Active Living Research New Connections Program.
