Active Schools in Chile: Impact on Fitness, Physical Activity, and Sports Participation

Summary

Study Rationale:

Currently, a significant proportion of children in Chile do not meet recommended physical activity levels, which may adversely affect their health and development. The school environment provides an ideal setting to promote healthy habits. This study was designed to evaluate whether a school-based program incorporating physical activity, sports, and health education can improve physical fitness and increase the time children dedicate to physical activity practice.

Objective:

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of a two-year school-based intervention on physical activity levels, physical fitness (measured by upper body, lower body, and abdominal muscular strength), and sports participation among Chilean schoolchildren.

How the study works:

This study is a cluster-randomized clinical trial incorporating a control group and a pre-post design. Participating schools were allocated into two groups:

Intervention Group: Participated in a specialized program focused on physical activity and the promotion of sports practice throughout two school years.

Control Group: Continued with the standard school curriculum and regular physical education classes for the same period.

What was measured:

At baseline and after the two-year intervention, the following outcomes were assessed:

Physical Activity Levels: Measured via accelerometry; Physical Fitness: Assessed through muscular strength tests, including upper limb strength (handgrip strength using a dynamometer), lower limb strength (standing long jump test), and abdominal strength (60-second curl-up test).

Sports Participation: Evaluated through self-reports of involvement in organized sports.

Researchers compared pre- and post-intervention data between the intervention and control groups to determine if children in the special program showed significantly greater improvements compared to those in the standard routine.

Conditions

• Physical Fitness
• Physical Activity
• Sedentary Behaviors
• Health Promotion
• Child Health
• Sports

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Active Schools Program

The intervention was conducted two to three times per week, depending on the specific schedule of each school. In addition to enhanced physical education classes, educational content related to the benefits of healthy behaviors was integrated across various academic subjects to increase students' awareness. During physical education classes, activities designed to maximize PA levels and improve muscular strength were implemented. Additionally, strategies to foster active recess were established, including the provision of equipment such as jump ropes, medicine balls, and resistance bands for recreational and playful activities. Specific areas were also organized for PA during breaks, featuring floor and wall markings for game and exercise stations, accompanied by instructional posters suggesting activities. These actions aimed to encourage movement and increase students' engagement in PA throughout the school day.

OTHER

Regular Physical Education

Participants in the control group followed the standard Chilean school curriculum, as mandated by the Ministry of Education. This included the regular Physical Education program (typically two sessions per week) and standard school recess periods, without any additional structured physical activity, specialized equipment, or health education workshops provided by the research team. No specific intervention was implemented to modify physical activity levels, muscular strength, or sports participation patterns during the study period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad de Santiago de Chile

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

9 Years

Max Age

11 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-12-11

Primary Completion

2025-12-15

Completion

2026-03-02

Countries

• Chile

Study Locations