Positive Effects of Promoting Physical Activity and Balanced Diets in a Primary School Setting with a High Proportion of Migrant School Children

Abstract

Children with migration background are at particular risk for overweight. We assessed the effects of a primary school-based initiative targeted at enhancing physical activity and dietary education among children with a high proportion of migration background. Four 3 and 4 grade classes (n=70 children, 77% with migration background) participated in a 10-months intervention comprising 2 additional exercise lessons weekly and 10 nutrition lessons per school year. 6 school classes (n=125 children, 65% with migration background) served as control. Before and after the intervention, an assessment of physical fitness and motor skills and questionnaires on dietary behavior and knowledge were conducted. In a subgroup (n=37), after 6 months of the intervention, daily physical activity was assessed by accelerometer-based monitoring. Differences in changes between the groups were assessed using linear regression analyses. Changes between the 2 time points for fitness and motor skill tests (differences in standard deviation scores) were larger in the intervention than in the control group for the total mean test value (β=0.38, p<0.001), driven by higher improvements in 5 of the 8 test items, i.e., obstacle race (speed) (β=0.22, p=0.049), standing long jump (strength) (β=0.35, p<0.001), sit-ups (strength) (β=0.33, p=0.002), stand and reach (mobility) (β=0.22, p=0.042), and 6 min run (endurance) (β=0.40, p<0.001), independently of confounders. Changes in dietary knowledge and consumption frequencies did not differ between groups. Promoting guided physical activity in a primary school setting with a high proportion of children with migration background positively affected parameters of fitness and motor skills.

Positive Effects of Practical Nutrition Lessons in a Primary School Setting with a High Proportion of Migrant School Children

“…1, ▶table 1). The target group of the SMS initiative comprises children with an increased need for support for a balanced lifestyle and the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases [6]. This is reflected by the high proportion of children with migrant background in the present study cohort (▶table 1).…”

“…Limitations comprise, firstly, that the children could not be matched for migration background and age due to the school-based setting. However, these variables were included as confounders in the mixed models and regression analyses to minimize possible effects on the results [6]. Second, the participating school classes could not be randomly allocated to the intervention and control group as the practical nutrition lessons are part of the SMS initiative.…”

“…We have previously shown that a school-based intervention offering weekly guided physical activity lessons for 3 rd and 4 th grade primary school children with a high proportion of migration background improved the children's fitness and motor skills [6]. However, ten lessons of nutritional education per school year, provided by the teachers and conducted based on child-oriented paperbased material specifically developed for this intervention did not change the children's self-reported food consumption frequencies or dietary knowledge when compared to children not receiving the intervention [6]. Thus, the dietary intervention was modified, now comprising an evaluated three-day curriculum of practical nutrition lessons [7] conducted by dietician trainees.…”

Integrated Strength and Fundamental Movement Skill Training in Children: A Pilot Study

“…Previous fundamental movement skill intervention studies have shown promising outcomes on MVPA levels in children [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. In contrast, some studies have demonstrated that fundamental movement skill interventions are unsuccessful at improving physical activity levels in children [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Robinson and Goodway [ 28 ] infer that children do not drastically improve their fundamental movement skill competence through free play; improvements are only seen when in an instructed environment and when progressions are apparent.…”

Baseline Leptin/Adiponectin Ratio is a Significant Predictor of BMI Changes in Children/Adolescents after Intensive Lifestyle Intervention

“…Regular monitoring of body weight is also crucial and, to that end, regular check-ups are advised [4]. Additional exercise classes and nutrition-centred educational lessons are further recommended [32].…”