Step Up For Health: After-School Program to Increase Aerobic Capacity

Background/Purpose:   With youth obesity rates in the United States (U.S.) on the rise (CDC, 2011), increasing the levels of physical activity (PA) in youth has become a key strategy to combat the epidemic. Engagement in regular PA reduces the risks of obesity and other health related diseases (Fernandes & Sturm, 2011; Janssen, & LeBlanc, 2010; Matvienko & Ahrabi-Fard, 2010). However, the majority of youth living in the U.S. do not meet the CDC’s (2011) recommendation for PA engagement (60 minutes+ daily of moderate to vigorous PA). Historically, physical education programs were largely responsible for keeping America’s youth active. However, with program cuts, both the quality and quantity of physical education has dramatically decreased (CDC, 2004).  Therefore, it is essential that organizations that interact with youth promote continuing PA. One such program is after-school PA programs. These programs have been linked to increased PA levels (Matvienko & Ahrabi-Fard, 2010), aerobic capacity and positive goal setting (Wanless, Judge, & Dieringer, 2014). The purpose of this research study was to investigate the effects of a 10-week after-school PA program on aerobic capacity (Fitnessgram PACER), and pedometer step-counts for elementary children in grades 2-6.  

Method:   Participants included 50 students grades 2-6 (m=33) and (f=17), (range=7-11 , mean=9). Sessions took place over 10-weeks, 2 days per week for 1 hour. Each session began with the participants receiving a pedometer. After a brief warm-up, the participants were presented with a brief fitness topic lesson, and a running/walking workout was presented by the instructor and completed by the participants. The instructor then presented fitness related games (related to the topic of the week) and the participants were able to “play”. At the completion of the games all students recorded their daily step counts, feelings, and goals for the next session.

Analysis/Results: Descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests were conducted.  A significant difference was found between pre-program (M=23.86, SD=10.36) and post-program (M=30.97, SD=12.280) PACER scores t(34)=-5.09, p<.005 Additionally, average step count from the first week (M=3159.05, SD=1584.0) to the last week (M=4506.18, SD=1154.948) increased significantly throughout the program signifying significant behavior change t(38)= -4.738, p<.005. 

Conclusions: In conclusion, because the participants were responsible for establishing their own step-count goals, it is apparent that participants were able to meet their step goals and demonstrate behavior change in amount of PA during the sessions. Further research needs to be conducted to investigate the sustainability of the changes of behaviors.