Activity Bursts in the Classroom (ABC) Fitness Program
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Activity Bursts in the Classroom (ABC) Fitness Program is a classroom-based physical activity program for elementary school children. The program combines brief bursts of classroom-based activity with parental education and community involvement. Bursts of classroom activity aim to replace time spent by teachers calming down classrooms and improving concentration among students.
Bursts of activity are conducted during downtime in the classroom, with a goal of 30 minutes of activity per day. Each activity burst has three components: warm up, core activity, and cool down. Warm up includes stretching or light aerobic activity, the core activity includes strength or aerobic activity, and the cool down consists of stretching or low-intensity activity. Teachers are given freedom to choose the activities appropriate for their classroom.
Bursts of activity are conducted during downtime in the classroom, with a goal of 30 minutes of activity per day. Each activity burst has three components: warm up, core activity, and cool down. Warm up includes stretching or light aerobic activity, the core activity includes strength or aerobic activity, and the cool down consists of stretching or low-intensity activity. Teachers are given freedom to choose the activities appropriate for their classroom.
Goal / Mission
The project aims to promote a healthy lifestyle and reverse the trend of obesity among students and their families.
Impact
The ABC Fitness Program demonstrates the feasibility of bursts of structured physical activity for elementary school students with the beneficial effects on fitness and other health measures.
Results / Accomplishments
Students in grades 2-4 in schools that received the intervention (n=655) were compared to students in grades 2-4 in schools who did not receive the intervention (n=559).
Students participating in the ABC Fitness Program showed a greater improvement in physical fitness than did the control group on measures of abdominal strength (P<0.001), upper-body strength (P<0.001), and trunk extensor (P<0.001). The intervention group had a greater reduction in asthma medication use (P=0.03), ADHD medication use (P=0.07), and asthma medication use and ADHD medication use combined (P=0.005), at follow-up, compared with the control group.
Students participating in the ABC Fitness Program showed a greater improvement in physical fitness than did the control group on measures of abdominal strength (P<0.001), upper-body strength (P<0.001), and trunk extensor (P<0.001). The intervention group had a greater reduction in asthma medication use (P=0.03), ADHD medication use (P=0.07), and asthma medication use and ADHD medication use combined (P=0.005), at follow-up, compared with the control group.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Yale University's Prevention Research Center and Independence School District (Independence, MO)
Primary Contact
David L. Katz, MD
Prevention Research Center
130 Division St.
Derby, CT 06418
203-732-7194
david.katz@yale.edu
http://www.davidkatzmd.com/
Prevention Research Center
130 Division St.
Derby, CT 06418
203-732-7194
david.katz@yale.edu
http://www.davidkatzmd.com/
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Children's Health
Health / Respiratory Diseases
Health / Children's Health
Health / Respiratory Diseases
Organization(s)
Yale University's Prevention Research Center and Independence School District (Independence, MO)
Source
Preventing Chronic Disease (CDC)
Date of publication
Jul 2010
Date of implementation
Sep 2007
Location
Independence, MO
For more details
Target Audience
Children
Additional Audience
Elementary school students