Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness
Volume 9, Issue 1 , Pages 1-14, 2011

Policies to Increase Physical Activity in Children and Youth

  • Russell R. Pate

      Affiliations

    • Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
    • ,
  • Jennifer L. Trilk

      Affiliations

    • Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding Author Jennifer L. Trilk, Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, 921 Assembly Street, Room 236, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
    • ,
  • Wonwoo Byun

      Affiliations

    • Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
    • ,
  • Jing Wang

      Affiliations

    • College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, CHINA

Article Outline

The World Health Organization is encouraging countries to develop and implement policies aimed at increasing physical activity in children and adolescents. The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to identify the common existing international policies established to increase physical activity in children and adolescents; and (2) to examine the extent to which these policies are supported by solid scientific evidence. Existing policies as well as intervention studies for children and adolescents in Europe, America, Asia, and Oceania that were written in English and Chinese were identified via scientific databases, reference lists of articles, and existing archives and databases via non-electronic search. The policy areas found to be the most common were: (1) Physical Education in School; (2) Physical Activity-Related Health Education; (3) Community Environmental Support; (4) School Environmental Support; (5) Active Transport/Urban Design; and (6) Mass Media/Advertising Campaigns. For these policy areas, the intervention literature was reviewed and segmented into three domains: policy research (studies examining the relationship of policies to physical activity levels in young people), effectiveness studies (multi-site physical activity interventions), and efficacy studies (single site or local physical activity interventions). Effectiveness studies provided support for policies that focus on increasing Physical Education in School, improving School Environmental Support and Active Transport/Urban Design, and launching Mass Media/Advertising Campaigns designed to increase physical activity levels in children and adolescents. The results for Physical Activity-Related Health Education and Community Environmental Support were mixed, indicating that more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of physical activity policies in those areas.

Keywords:  accelerometry , active transport , MVPA , school environment

No full text is available. To read the body of this article, please view the PDF online.

 

Back to Article Outline

References 

  1. Bandura A . Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory . Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall; 1986;
  2. Bayne-Smith M , Fardy PS , Azzollini A , Magel J , Schmitz KH , Agin D . Improvements in heart health behaviors and reduction in coronary artery disease risk factors in urban teenaged girls through a school-based intervention: the PATH program . Am J Public Health . 2004;94:1538–1543
  3. Caballero B, Clay T, Davis SM, Ethelbah B, Rock BH, Lohman T, et al. Pathways: a school-based, randomized controlled trial for the prevention of obesity in American Indian schoolchildren . Am J Clin Nutr . 2003;78:1030–1038
  4. Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and State Council of China (2007). Views of Strengthening Youth Sports and Enhancing Their Physical Fitness. Beijing, China.
  5. Donnelly JE, Greene JL, Gibson CA, Smith BK, Washburn RA, Sullivan DK, et al. Physical Activity Across the Curriculum (PAAC): a randomized controlled trial to promote physical activity and diminish overweight and obesity in elementary school children . Prev Med . 2009;49:336–341
  6. Dzewaltowski DA, Estabrooks PA, Welk G, Hill J, Milliken G, Karteroliotis K, et al. Healthy youth places: a randomized controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of facilitating adult and youth leaders to promote physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption in middle schools . Health Educ Behav . 2009;36:583–600
  7. Engbers LH , van Poppel MN , Chin APMJ , van Mechelen W . Worksite health promotion programs with environmental changes: a systematic review . Am J Prev Med . 2005;29:61–70
  8. Fletcher GF, Blair SN, Blumenthal J, Caspersen C, Chaitman B, Epstein S, et al. Statement on exercise. Benefits and recommendations for physical activity programs for all Americans. A statement for health professionals by the Committee on Exercise and Cardiac Rehabilitation of the Council on Clinical Cardiology, American Heart Association . Circulation . 1992;86:340–344
  9. Going S, Thompson J, Cano S, Stewart D, Stone E, Harnack L, et al. The effects of the Pathways Obesity Prevention Program on physical activity in American Indian children . Prev Med . 2003;37:S62–S69
  10. Gortmaker SL, Peterson K, Wiecha J, Sobol AM, Dixit S, Fox MK, et al. Reducing obesity via a school-based interdisciplinary intervention among youth: Planet Health . Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med . 1999;153:409–418
  11. Haerens L , De Bourdeaudhuij I , Maes L , Cardon G , Deforche B . School-based randomized controlled trial of a physical activity intervention among adolescents . J Adolesc Health . 2007;40:258–265
  12. Harrell JS , McMurray RG , Bangdiwala SI , Frauman AC , Gansky SA , Bradley CB . Effects of a school-based intervention to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors in elementary-school children: the Cardiovascular Health in Children (CHIC) study . J Pediatr . 1996;128:797–805
  13. Harrison M , Burns CF , McGuinness M , Heslin J , Murphy NM . Influence of a health education intervention on physical activity and screen time in primary school children: ‘Switch Off-Get Active’ . J Sci Med Sport . 2006;9:388–394
  14. Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (1997). Physical Activity: An Investment in Public Health. The Northern Ireland Physical Activity Strategy Action Plan 1998-2002. Belfast, Ireland.
  15. Huhman ME , Potter LD , Duke JC , Judkins DR , Heitzler CD , Wong FL . Evaluation of a national physical activity intervention for children: VERB campaign, 2002–2004 . Am J Prev Med . 2007;32:38–43
  16. Jago R, Baranowski T, Baranowski JC, Thompson D, Cullen KW, Watson K, et al. Fit for Life Boy Scout badge: outcome evaluation of a troop and Internet intervention . Prev Med . 2006;42:181–187
  17. Jurg ME , Kremers SP , Candel MJ , Van der Wal MF , De Meij JS . A controlled trial of a school-based environmental intervention to improve physical activity in Dutch children: JUMP-in, kids in motion . Health Promot Int . 2006;21:320–330
  18. Kriemler S, Zahner L, Schindler C, Meyer U, Hartmann T, Hebestreit H, et al. Effect of school based physical activity programme (KISS) on fitness and adiposity in primary schoolchildren: cluster randomised controlled trial . BMJ . 2010;340:c785
  19. Luepker RV, Perry CL, McKinlay SM, Nader PR, Parcel GS, Stone EJ, et al  Outcomes of a field trial to improve children's dietary patterns and physical activity. The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health. CATCH collaborative group . JAMA . 1996;275:768–776
  20. Manios Y , Kafatos A , Mamalakis G . The effects of a health education intervention initiated at first grade over a 3 year period: physical activity and fitness indices . Health Educ Res . 1998;13:593–606
  21. Marcus C , Nyberg G , Nordenfelt A , Karpmyr M , Kowalski J , Ekelund U . A 4-year, cluster-randomized, controlled childhood obesity prevention study: STOPP . Int J Obes (Lond) . 2009;33:408–417
  22. Matsudo SM, Matsudo VR, Andrade DR, Araujo TL, Andrade E, De Oliveria L, et al. Physical activity promotion: experiences and evaluation of the Agita Sao Paulo program using the ecological mobile model . J Phys Act Health . 2004;1:81–97
  23. McKenzie TL , Sallis JF , Prochaska JJ , Conway TL , Marshall SJ , Rosengard P . Evaluation of a two-year middle-school physical education intervention: M-SPAN . Med Sci Sports Exerc . 2004;36:1382–1388
  24. Mendoza JA , Levinger DD , Johnston BD . Pilot evaluation of a walking school bus program in a low-income, urban community . BMC Public Health . 2009;9:122
  25. Ministry of Education of China and General Administration of Sports of China (2006). Views of Further Strengthening School Sports and Enhancing Student's Physical Fitness. Beijing, China.
  26. Ministry of Education of China and General Administration of Sports of China and Communist Youth League of China (2006). Decision of Sunny Sports. Beijing, China.
  27. Ministry of Education of China and General Administration of Sports of China (2002). National Standards for Students' Fitness and Health. Beijing, China.
  28. Ministry of Education of China and General Administration of Sports of China (2007). National Standards for Students' Fitness and Health. Beijing, China.
  29. Ministry of Education of China and General Administration of Sports of China 2007. Notice of Popularizing the First National Primary and Secondary School Group Dance. Beijing, China.
  30. National Physical Activity Plan (2010). National Physical Activity Plan. Washington, D.C., United States.
  31. National Public Health Partnership (2004). Be Active Australia: Draft National Physical Activity for Health Action Plan. Melbourne, Australia.
  32. National Public Health Partnership (2005). Be Active Australia: A Framework for Health Sector Action for Physical Activity, 2005–2010. Melbourne, Australia.
  33. Naylor PJ , Macdonald HM , Warburton DE , Reed KE , McKay HA . An active school model to promote physical activity in elementary schools: action schools! BC . Br J Sports Med . 2008;42:338–343
  34. Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services (2005). The Action Plan on Physical Activity 2005–2009. Working Together for Physical Activity, 8–2-0005, Oslo, Sweden.
  35. Palmer S , Graham G , Elliot E . Effects of a web-based health promotion on fifth grade children's physical activity knowledge, attitudes and behavior . Am J Health Educ . 2005;36:86–93
  36. Pangrazi RP , Beighle A , Vehige T , Vack C . Impact of Promoting Lifestyle Activity for Youth (PLAY) on children's physical activity . J Sch Health . 2003;73:317–321
  37. Pate RR, Pratt M, Blair SN, Haskell WL, Macera CA, Bouchard C, et al  Physical activity and public health. A recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine . JAMA . 1995;273:402–407
  38. Pate RR , Saunders RP , Ward DS , Felton G , Trost SG , Dowda M . Evaluation of a community-based intervention to promote physical activity in youth: lessons from Active Winners . Am J Health Promot . 2003;17:171–182
  39. Pate RR , Ward DS , Saunders RP , Felton G , Dishman RK , Dowda M . Promotion of physical activity among high-school girls: a randomized controlled trial . Am J Public Health . 2005;95:1582–1587
  40. Sahota P , Rudolf MC , Dixey R , Hill AJ , Barth JH , Cade J . Randomised controlled trial of primary school based intervention to reduce risk factors for obesity . BMJ . 2001;323:1029–1032
  41. Sallis JF , McKenzie TL , Alcaraz JE , Kolody B , Faucette N , Hovell MF . The effects of a 2-year physical education program (SPARK) on physical activity and fitness in elementary school students. Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids . Am J Public Health . 1997;87:1328–1334
  42. Salmon J , Ball K , Hume C , Booth M , Crawford D . Outcomes of a group-randomized trial to prevent excess weight gain, reduce screen behaviours and promote physical activity in 10-year-old children: Switch-Play . Int J Obes (Lond) . 2008;32:601–612
  43. Schoppe S, Bauman A, Bull FC (2004). International Review of National Physical Activity Policy. New South Wales Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Sydney, Australia, CPAH04-0002.
  44. Scottish National Physical Activity Task Force  . Let's Make Scotland More Active: A Strategy for Physical Activity . Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Executive; 2003;
  45. Scottish Physical Activity Research Collaboration  . Five-year Review of ‘Let's Make Scotland More Active’-A Strategy for Physical Activity . Edinburgh, Scotland: NHS Health; 2009;
  46. Simon C, Schweitzer B, Oujaa M, Wagner A, Arveiler D, Triby E, et al. Successful overweight prevention in adolescents by increasing physical activity: a 4-year randomized controlled intervention . Int J Obes (Lond) . 2008;32:1489–1498
  47. Simon C, Wagner A, Platat C, Arveiler D, Schweitzer B, Schlienger JL, et al. ICAPS: a multilevel program to improve physical activity in adolescents . Diabetes Metab . 2006;32:41–49
  48. Spiegel SA , Foulk D . Reducing overweight through a multidisciplinary school-based intervention . Obesity (Silver Spring) . 2006;14:88–96
  49. Sports Law of the People's Republic of China (1995). Fifteenth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth National People's Congress. Beijing, China.
  50. Staunton CE , Hubsmith D , Kallins W . Promoting safe walking and biking to school: the Marin County success story . Am J Public Health . 2003;93:1431–1434
  51. Summerfelt WT , Meltzer HY . Efficacy vs. effectiveness in psychiatric research . Psychiatr Serv . 1998;49:834–835
  52. Swedish National Food Administration and National Institute of Public Health (2005). Background Material to the Action Plan for Healthy Dietary Habits and Increased Physical Activity. Uppsala, Sweden.
  53. Taymoori P , Niknami S , Berry T , Lubans D , Ghofranipour F , Kazemnejad A . A school-based randomized controlled trial to improve physical activity among Iranian high school girls . Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act . 2008;5:18
  54. The Sports and Youth Bureau of the Ministry of Education Culture Sports Science and Technology  . Basic Plan for the Promotion of Sports (2001–2010). Tokyo, Japan . Available online at http://www.mext.go.jp/english/news/2000/09/000949.htm 2000; [Date accessed: February 24, 2010].
  55. U.K. Department of Health  . Be Active, Be Healthy: A Plan for Getting the Nation Moving . London, England: Physical Activity Team; 2009;
  56. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1996). Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Atlanta, Georgia.
  57. van Beurden E , Barnett LM , Zask A , Dietrich UC , Brooks LO , Beard J . Can we skill and activate children through primary school physical education lessons? “Move it Groove it”-a collaborative health promotion intervention . Prev Med . 2003;36:493–501
  58. van Sluijs EM , McMinn AM , Griffin SJ . Effectiveness of interventions to promote physical activity in children and adolescents: systematic review of controlled trials . BMJ . 2007;335:703
  59. Verstraete SJ , Cardon GM , De Clercq DL , De Bourdeaudhuij IM . Increasing children's physical activity levels during recess periods in elementary schools: the effects of providing game equipment . Eur J Public Health . 2006;16:415–419
  60. Webber LS, Catellier DJ, Lytle LA, Murray DM, Pratt CA, Young DR, et al. Promoting physical activity in middle school girls: Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls . Am J Prev Med . 2008;34:173–184
  61. Wells KB , Sturm R . Informing the policy process: from efficacy to effectiveness data on pharmacotherapy . J Consult Clin Psychol . 1996;64:638–645
  62. Wen LM , Fry D , Merom D , Rissel C , Dirkis H , Balafas A . Increasing active travel to school: are we on the right track? A cluster randomised controlled trial from Sydney, Australia . Prev Med . 2008;47:612–618
  63. World Health Organization (2003). Health and Development Through Physical Activity and Health. WHO/NMH/NPH/PAH/03.2.
  64. World Health Organization  . WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health . Available online at http://www.who.int/hpr/gs.consultation.document.shtml#ConsultationSpeechesandStatements 2004; [Date accessed: May 20, 2010]

PII: S1728-869X(11)60001-4

doi:10.1016/S1728-869X(11)60001-4

Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness
Volume 9, Issue 1 , Pages 1-14, 2011

Article Tools