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, muscular fitness (measured by upper body, lower body, and abdominal muscular strength), and sports participation among Chilean schoolchildren.

How the study works:

This is a single-arm cluster intervention study incorporating a pre-post design. Participating schools were allocated in a specialized program focused on physical activity and the promotion of sports practice throughout two school years.

What was measured:

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

Physical Activity Levels: Measured via accelerometry; Muscular 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 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

Children who did not participate in specific intervention activities continued their usual school routine and regular physical education classes, as mandated by the Ministry of Education of Chile; however, they were not considered a control group for analytical purposes.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad de Santiago de Chile

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

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