Premium
Promoting Youth Physical Activity in the Classroom Through a Comprehensive Walking Program
Author(s) -
Cirignano Sherri M.,
Du Lidan,
Morgan Kathleen T.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
family and consumer sciences research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 1077-727X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1552-3934.2010.02054.x
Subject(s) - pedometer , physical activity , intervention (counseling) , physical therapy , psychology , program evaluation , medicine , gerontology , nursing , public administration , political science
According to current guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, youth should be active for at least 60 min each day. This study investigated the effects of a 6‐week in‐school walking program. The outcomes of interest were the weekly and daily steps that students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 walked as recorded on pedometers. Evaluations were sent to parents before and after the walking program and exit interviews were provided to students and teachers to obtain their perceptions on program effectiveness. Average daily and weekly steps showed an overall upward trend for all students. The largest increase in steps was found among the fourth graders. Six months after the intervention, almost 40% of parents who completed the postevaluation reported that their child continued to use the pedometer. Almost 90% of parents who completed the postevaluation reported that they felt the program was beneficial in promoting physical activity in their child.