A classroom-based physical activity intervention for urban kindergarten and first-grade students: a feasibility study.
BACKGROUND
Urban elementary schools in minority communities with high obesity prevalence may have limited resources for physical education (PE) to achieve daily activity recommendations. Little is known whether integrating physical activity (PA) into classrooms can increase activity levels of students attending such schools.


METHODS
We conducted a cluster randomized, controlled trial among kindergarten and first-grade students from four Bronx, New York, schools to determine feasibility and impact of a classroom-based intervention on students' PA levels. Students in two intervention schools received the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Joining Academics and Movement (CHAM JAM), an audio CD consisting of 10-minute, education-focused aerobic activities led by teachers three times a day. PA was objectively measured by pedometer. Each subject wore a sealed pedometer during the 6-hour school day for 5 consecutive days at baseline (Time 1) and 8 weeks postintervention (Time 2). Hierarchical linear models were fit to evaluate differences in mean number of steps between the two groups.


RESULTS
A total of 988 students participated (intervention group, n=500; control group, n=488). There was no significant difference at baseline between the two groups on mean number of steps (2581 [standard deviation (SD), 1284] vs. 2476 [SD, 1180]; P=0.71). Eight weeks post-CHAM JAM, intervention group students took significantly greater mean number of steps than controls (2839 [SD, 1262] vs. 2545 [SD, 1153]; P=0.0048) after adjusting for baseline number of steps and other covariates (grade, gender, recess, and PE class). CHAM JAM was equally effective in gender, grade level, and BMI subgroups.


CONCLUSIONS
CHAM JAM significantly increased school-based PA among kindergarten and first-grade students in inner-city schools. This approach holds promise as a cost-effective means to integrate the physical and cognitive benefits of PA into high-risk schools.
1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
Marina
M
Reznik
2Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
Judith
J
Wylie-Rosett
2Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
Mimi
M
Kim
3Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
Philip O
PO
Ozuah
D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population