Abstract
Purpose.
To examine the effects of an after-school NutriActive program on anthropometric measurements, motor skills, and fitness levels of young children.
Design.
In this quasi-experimental study, anthropometric, motor skill, and fitness measurements were compared between intervention and control students at baseline, following a 4-week intervention, and after a summer break (4 months).
Setting.
Two intervention and two control microurban elementary schools.
Subjects.
Forty-two intervention and 28 control kindergarten and first-grade students (50% boys, 82% Caucasian).
Intervention.
A 4-week program consisted daily of a morning walk and an after-school physical activity lesson with an emphasis on motor skill development, nutrition/health lesson, snack, and nonstructured active play.
Measures.
Body mass index, waist circumference, and fitness and motor skill levels.
Analysis.
Repeated-measures analysis of variance, t-test, and stepwise regression.
Results.
The intervention group scored significantly better on some fitness and all motor skill tests at 4 weeks. The improvements in fitness and skill levels ranged from 30% to 270%. At 4 months, differences between the groups diminished but remained significant, with better scores for the intervention group on some tests. Skill levels emerged as predictors of cardiovascular fitness at 4 months. Anthropometric measurements did not differ between the groups at any time point.
Conclusion.
A short, intense after-school program can produce significant, sustainable improvements in motor skill and fitness levels of young children.
Keywords
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