Effects of a Novel School-Based Cross-Curricular Physical Activity Intervention on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in 11- to 14-Year-Olds: The Activity Knowledge Circuit

Abstract

Purpose.

This study investigates cardiovascular disease risk factor response in adolescents following introduction of brisk walking into curriculum lessons.

Design.

Quasi-experimental.

Setting.

School-based.

Subjects.

An intervention group consisted of 115 (aged 12.4 ± 0.5 y) year eight participants, and 77 (aged 12.1 ± 1.1 y) year seven and year nine participants formed a control.

Intervention.

An 18-week cross-curricular physical activity intervention was implemented in one secondary school.

Measures.

Adiposity variables, blood pressure, lipids, lipoproteins, glucose, insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, high-molecular-weight adiponectin, aerobic fitness, physical activity behavior, and diet were assessed preintervention and postintervention.

Analysis.

Dependent and independent t-tests.

Results.

Prevalence of elevated waist circumference (9.8% vs. 6.9%), systolic blood pressure (3.3% vs. 0%), triglycerides (2.5% vs. 1.2%), and reduced high density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.7% vs. 2.7%) decreased in the intervention group. Significant improvements in high density lipoprotein cholesterol to total cholesterol ratio (mean ± SD: 2% ± 4% [confidence interval (CI)_0.05 = 1% to 2%], t₈₀ = −3.5, p = .001) and glucose (−.1 ± .4 mmol/L [CI_0.05 = −.2% to 0%], t₇₉ = 3.2, p = .002) were evident for the intervention group.

Conclusion.

The Activity Knowledge Circuit may prove to be a sustainable, effective, and cost-effective strategy to engage schoolchildren in physical activity on a daily basis. A longer-duration intervention is required to fully understand risk factor response in adolescents.

Keywords

Obesity Exercise Inflammation Coronary Heart Disease Insulin Resistance Prevention Research Manuscript format: research Research purpose: Intervention testing Study design: quasi-experimental Outcome measure: behavioral Setting: school Health focus: physical activity Strategy: behavior change Target population: youth Target population circumstances: education/income level

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