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Gilman, A.

Higgins, B.

Volpe, S.

Werner, E.

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Changes in Health Behaviors of Students during Summer Break Following a Year-Long School Health Intervention     Gilman A, Werner E, Higgins B, Volpe S, FACSM Drexel University, Philadelphia,     Pennsylvania   Approximately 17% of children in the United States, 2 to 19 years of age, are obese. Additionally, 41% of children, 6 to 17 years of age, in Philadelphia are obese or overweight. School-based interventions provide impact in changing health behaviors of students. However, the lack of intervention during summer break presents the opportunity for children to revert to old behaviors. PURPOSE: To assess how the summer break affects the health behaviors of students in the 4th and 5th grades previously provided health intervention programming in the school setting. METHODS: These cross-sectional data included questionnaire responses from students in one school participating in a larger three-year school-based health intervention. The intervention included programming focused on eating right, getting fit and staying well. Health behavior questionnaires were provided to students on a biannual basis (fall and spring). The current data were collected during Year 1 (4th grade) and Year 2 (5th grade) of the intervention. Questions analyzed were: “During the past 7 days, on how many days were you physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes per day?”; and “During the past 7 days, on how many days did you eat breakfast?” RESULTS: Baseline Year 1 physical activity response mean (± standard deviation) was 4.06 ± 2.29 days; follow up mean was 4.78 ± 2.35 days (p=0.165). Baseline Year 2 response mean decreased to 4.18 ± 2.54 days (p=0.29); Cohen’s d effect size [95% Confidence Interval] = 0.2 [-0.25, 0.65]. Baseline Year 1 breakfast intake response mean was 5.35 ± 2.35 days; follow-up mean was 6.31 ± 1.69 days (p=0.08). Baseline Year 2 response mean was 5.29 ± 2.56 days, (p=0.08); Cohen’s d= 0.42 [-.16, 1.16]. CONCLUSION: Summer break did not significantly affect children’s physical activity (p=0.29) or breakfast intake (p=0.08) after one year of program intervention in the schools. Although statistical significance was not achieved, a small to moderate effect size was seen for changes between follow-up Year 1 to baseline Year 2 in both physical activity (Cohen’s d=0.2) and breakfast intake (Cohen’s d= -0.41). This shows clinical relevance to the impact of summer break on health behaviors.     Funding was provided by the Independence Blue Cross Foundation.	  

Changes in Health Behaviors of Students During Summer Break Following a Year-Long School Health Intervention

http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2776&context=ijesab

Changes in Health Behaviors of Students During Summer Break Following a Year-Long School Health Intervention

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