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“A”-kids: Activity kcal intervention daily study effects of 100-kcal daily energy expenditure on total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 3rd grade children
Abstract
A selection of common children’s games were measured in a laboratory-based study to be enjoyable and to elicit sufficient physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) in 3rd grade children to combat the purported chronic energy surplus of childhood obesity (∼100 kcal·day -1). PAEE during the games was similar for boys and girls, yet overweight children expended greater PAEE relative to body weight than healthy weight children. During a subsequent simulated recess program, the enjoyment declined over the 10-session program with no significant decline in PAEE. Using the enjoyable games of known energy cost in a structured recess program for 9 weeks successfully increased total daily PA compared to the control school who reported substantially greater amount of free-play time. The greater amount of acquired PA in the intervention school children did not affect the amount of time spent in sedentary pursuits but it did result in a smaller increase in body weight after 9 weeks. More research is needed to expand on this initial list of games that reduce the excessive weight gain in children when incorporated into a structured recess intervention.
Subject Area
Public health
Recommended Citation
Howe, Cheryl A, "“A”-kids: Activity kcal intervention daily study effects of 100-kcal daily energy expenditure on total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 3rd grade children" (2010). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI3397707.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI3397707