The effectiveness of physical activity promotion program during summer vacation

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine Vol. 68; no. 2; pp. 145 - 152
• Main Authors: Matsui, Masahiro, Togashi, Kenji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Tokyo The Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine 01.04.2019; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: accelerometer; children; Elementary schools; Exercise; Homework; physical activity; Physical education; Physical fitness; summer vacation; Vacations
• ISSN: 0039-906X; 1881-4751
• DOI: 10.7600/jspfsm.68.145

The decrease in physical activity in elementary school children is an important problem in Japan. Previous studies have shown that physical activity during the summer vacation is lower than during the school days, and a program for increase in physical activity during the summer vacation are required. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of physical education homework and exercise events during summer vacation in elementary school children. A total of 67 children in grade 4 were assigned to the two groups for each school: the control school (n = 39) or the intervention school (i.e., did physical education homework and participated in exercise events; n = 28). Physical education homework was constituted of four exercise programs per day. Additionally, exercise events were carried out four times during the summer vacation. Physical activity before and during the summer vacation were measured by accelerometer (Lifecorder EX). The decline in physical activity of the intervention school was less than the control school, and significant interactions were indicated by two-way repeated ANOVA (Step count: F (1, 65) = 6.704; Light-intensity physical activity, LPA: F (1, 65) = 4.365; Moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, MVPA: F (1, 65) = 6.088, all P < 0.05, respectively). After adjusted for sex, percentage of overweight, participation of sport activity, and each physical activity, significant trends of interactions about the step count, LPA, and MVPA were shown (Step count: F (1, 61) = 3.982, P = 0.050; LPA: F (1, 61) = 3.243, P = 0.077; MVPA: F (1, 61) = 2.916, P = 0.093). These results suggest that combined use of physical education homework and exercise events are effective to attenuate the decrease in physical activity during summer vacation in elementary school children.