Waikato 2011 centile charts for assessment of time to run 550m [Microsoft Excel workbook]

Centile charts show the position of a measurement compared to a reference population. They are useful for comparing measurements that change with growth and time for an individual or a group. The time to run 550 m was measured as the time taken to run five times around an oval track (26.5m by 42.5m). We have developed gender-specific time to run 550m centile charts from measurements of 5059 children aged 6 to 12 years. The calculations that underpin the graphical representation of these charts have been embedded in the attached excel spreadsheet. For a child, or group of children of the same gender the age and run time in years, minutes and seconds may be entered in the unprotected cells and the point will be plotted on the gender-specific chart and the z score determined. For example for a group of 6 year old girls the median age will be 6.5 years and the median run time of the group may be entered. In this way changes in run time over time may be assessed or different children and groups compared with and without intervention and accounting for gender and age

Project energize : whole-region primary school nutrition and physical activity programme; evaluation of body size and fitness 5 years after the randomised controlled trial

Project Energize, a region-wide whole-school nutrition and physical activity programme, commenced as a randomised controlled trial (RCT) in the period 2004-6 in 124 schools in Waikato, New Zealand. In 2007, sixty-two control schools were engaged in the programme, and by 2011, all but two of the 235 schools in the region were engaged. Energizers (trained nutrition and physical activity specialists) work with eight to twelve schools each to achieve the goals of the programme, which are based on healthier eating and enhanced physical activity. In 2011, indices of obesity and physical fitness of 2474 younger (7•58 (sd 0•57) years) and 2330 older (10•30 (sd 0•51) years) children attending 193 of the 235 primary schools were compared with historical measurements. After adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, socio-economic status (SES) and school cluster effects, the combined prevalence of obesity and overweight among younger and older children in 2011 was lower by 31 and 15%, respectively, than that among 'unEnergized' children in the 2004 to 2006 RCT. Similarly, BMI was lower by 3•0% (95% CI-5•8,- 1•3) and 2•4% (95% CI-4•3,-0•5). Physical fitness (time taken to complete a 550m run) was significantly higher in the Energized children (13•7 and 11•3%, respectively) than in a group of similarly aged children from another region. These effects were observed for boys and girls, both indigenous Māori and non-Māori children, and across SES. The long-term regional commitment to the Energize programme in schools may potentially lead to a secular reduction in the prevalence of overweight and obesity and gains in physical fitness, which may reduce the risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes