PURPOSE: Evaluate the effect of an after-school intervention on physical activity program changes and individual behaviors among children. METHODS: A quasi-experimental evaluation of a YMCA-driven environmental change intervention with 16 intervention and 16 control sites in four metropolitan areas in the United States. Intervention sites participated in learning collaboratives designed to promote physical activity and nutrition through environmental change, educational activities, and parent engagement. Behavioral foci included increasing overall physical activity levels as well as combined moderate and vigorous physical activity and vigorous physical activity. Outcomes were assessed longitudinally using preintervention and follow-up surveys of program implementation and accelerometer measures of physical activity. ActiGraph accelerometer data were collected from a sample of 212 children, ages 5-11 yr, attending the programs. On average, 3 d of data were gathered per child. Reliability of the accelerometer counts averaged 0.78. Multivariate regression models were used to control for potential confounding variables and to account for clustering of observations. RESULTS: Data indicate greater physical activity increases in children in intervention versus control sites after modest intervention implementation. Controlling for baseline covariates, children in intervention sites showed greater increases in average physical activity level than in control sites (76 counts per minute, P = 0.037, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.1-144) and more minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity (10.5 min·d(-1), P = 0.017, 95% CI = 1.5-18.6), minutes of moderate physical activity (5.6 min·d(-1), P = 0.020, 95% CI = 0.99-10.2), and minutes of vigorous physical activity (5.1 min·d(-1), P = 0.051, 95% CI = 0.21-9.93). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate significant increases in daily physical activity among children in intervention versus control sites. This study documents the effectiveness of an environmental change approach in an applied setting.
PURPOSE: Evaluate the effect of an after-school intervention on physical activity program changes and individual behaviors among children. METHODS: A quasi-experimental evaluation of a YMCA-driven environmental change intervention with 16 intervention and 16 control sites in four metropolitan areas in the United States. Intervention sites participated in learning collaboratives designed to promote physical activity and nutrition through environmental change, educational activities, and parent engagement. Behavioral foci included increasing overall physical activity levels as well as combined moderate and vigorous physical activity and vigorous physical activity. Outcomes were assessed longitudinally using preintervention and follow-up surveys of program implementation and accelerometer measures of physical activity. ActiGraph accelerometer data were collected from a sample of 212 children, ages 5-11 yr, attending the programs. On average, 3 d of data were gathered per child. Reliability of the accelerometer counts averaged 0.78. Multivariate regression models were used to control for potential confounding variables and to account for clustering of observations. RESULTS: Data indicate greater physical activity increases in children in intervention versus control sites after modest intervention implementation. Controlling for baseline covariates, children in intervention sites showed greater increases in average physical activity level than in control sites (76 counts per minute, P = 0.037, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.1-144) and more minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity (10.5 min·d(-1), P = 0.017, 95% CI = 1.5-18.6), minutes of moderate physical activity (5.6 min·d(-1), P = 0.020, 95% CI = 0.99-10.2), and minutes of vigorous physical activity (5.1 min·d(-1), P = 0.051, 95% CI = 0.21-9.93). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate significant increases in daily physical activity among children in intervention versus control sites. This study documents the effectiveness of an environmental change approach in an applied setting.
Authors: Michael W Beets; R Glenn Weaver; Gabrielle Turner-McGrievy; Jennifer Huberty; Dianne S Ward; Russell R Pate; Darcy Freedman; Brent Hutto; Justin B Moore; Matteo Bottai; Jessica Chandler; Keith Brazendale; Aaron Beighle Journal: Prev Med Date: 2016-07-07 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Michael W Beets; R Glenn Weaver; Gabrielle Turner-McGrievy; Jennifer Huberty; Dianne S Ward; Russell R Pate; Darcy Freedman; Brent Hutto; Justin B Moore; Aaron Beighle Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2015-06 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Nor Baizura Md Yusop; Zalilah Mohd Shariff; Ting Tzer Hwu; Ruzita Abd Talib; Nicola Spurrier Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2018-03-01 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: R Glenn Weaver; Michael W Beets; Brent Hutto; Ruth P Saunders; Justin B Moore; Gabrielle Turner-McGrievy; Jennifer L Huberty; Dianne S Ward; Russell R Pate; Aaron Beighle; Darcy Freedman Journal: Health Educ Res Date: 2015-12
Authors: Alyson H Kristensen; Thomas J Flottemesch; Michael V Maciosek; Jennifer Jenson; Gillian Barclay; Marice Ashe; Eduardo J Sanchez; Mary Story; Steven M Teutsch; Ross C Brownson Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2014-08-27 Impact factor: 5.043