title: 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: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates cardiovascular disease risk factor response in adolescents following introduction of brisk walking into curriculum lessons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi-experimental.
  
  
  METHODS
  School-based.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 18-week cross-curricular physical activity intervention was implemented in one secondary school.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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%], t(80)  =  -3.5, p  =  .001) and glucose (-.1 ± .4 mmol/L [CI(0.05)  =  -.2% to 0%], t(79)  =  3.2, p  =  .002) were evident for the intervention group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Cyncoed Campus, United Kingdom. gaknox@uwic.ac.uk
authors.forename: Gareth J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: Julien S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Anwen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Stephen-Mark
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Sinead
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brophy
authors.forename: Non E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D015444:Exercise; D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012574:Schools