Cardiovascular Disease and the Effects of a Cross-curricular Physical Activity Intervention

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and the Effects of a Cross-curricular Physical Activity Intervention in 11-14 Year Olds. Activity Knowledge Circuit

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a cross-curricular physical activity intervention on cardiovascular disease risk factors in 11-14 year olds. The null hypothesis states that the intervention will have no effect on cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cardiovascular Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Activity Knowledge Circuits

Detailed Description

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease including obesity, blood pressure and blood lipids have been shown to track from childhood through to adulthood. The prevalence of overweight and obesity for children (4-18 years) in the UK is reported to be 15 % and 4 % respectively. Furthermore, in comparison to England (2.9 %) obesity is more prevalent for those living in Scotland (7.6 %) and Wales (6.5 %). Previous research from two Welsh secondary schools indicate overweight and obesity rates for boys and girls aged 12-13 to be even greater at 26 % and 38 % respectively. Further to this, 19 % were identified as having elevated total cholesterol (≥5.2 mmol/L).

For many, overweight and obesity is the result of the combined effect of excess energy consumption and inadequate physical activity. Previous school-based physical activity interventions have demonstrated modest improvements to cardiovascular disease risk factors by implementing extra-curricular activities or improving current physical education curriculum. Few have attempted to increase physical activity using normally, class-room taught curriculum subjects. This study examines the impact of activity knowledge circuits to combat cardiovascular disease risk factors in 11-14 year old children.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 192
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Rhondda Cynon Taff
    • Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taff, United Kingdom, CF39 0BS
      • Porth County Community School

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 11 years to 14 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Any pupil attending years 7, 8, and 9 of a secondary comprehensive school in South Wales

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any pupil with an injury or illness that prevented them from taking part in any form of physical activity.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Activity prescription	Other: Activity Knowledge Circuits; The activity knowledge circuits were implemented, where in addition to regular physical education (PE) activity was increased by two hours a week over an 18-week period. Participants briskly walked 3200 m twice weekly during curriculum lessons (60 min). Short tasks, in line with current curriculum, were provided by subject teachers for participants to complete at stations set every 400 or 800 m. Crucially participants continued to follow national curriculum whilst exercising. Tasks designed by teachers lasted no longer than 60 seconds at each station. With the exception of PE, each curriculum subject delivered a total of four intervention lessons. Circuits were performed outdoors on school premises, with an indoor course of equal distance used during adverse weather conditions.
No Intervention: Normal Curriculum; Followed normal curriculum including physical education

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Cardiovascular disease risk factors (obesity, blood pressure, blood lipid & lipoprotein)	6 Months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Physical activity behaviour and aerobic fitness profile	6 Months
7 day diet assessment	6 Months
Maturation status	6 Months
Motivation to exercise	6 Months
Psychological well-being, self concept, and cognitive performance	6 Months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Glamorgan
• Collaborators: Sports Council Wales; University of Wales Institute Cardiff
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Gareth J Knox, MSc, University of Wales Institute Cardiff

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Knox G, Baker JS, Davies B, Faulkner S, Rance J, Rees A, Morgan K, Thomas N. A cross-curricular physical activity intervention to combat cardiovascular disease risk factors in 11-14 year olds: 'activity knowledge circuit'. BMC Public Health. 2009 Dec 15;9:466. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-466.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 19, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 19, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): October 20, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): October 20, 2009
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 19, 2009
• Last Verified: October 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: AKC01