Exercise program and blood pressure in children: The moderating role of sedentary time.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to test a before-school physical activity intervention (Active-Start intervention) on blood pressure in children and examine whether sedentary time moderates the effect of the intervention on blood pressure. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. METHODS: The Active-Start intervention comprising 170 children (8-10 years old) from three public schools with low socioeconomic status in Santiago (Chile). The exercise intervention was delivered daily, before starting the first school-class (8:00-8:30 a.m.), for 8 weeks. The intervention was mainly a program of cooperative physical games at moderate-vigorous intensity. Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure was determined from the average of two measurements at baseline and at the end of intervention. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time was assessed using a GENEActiv tri-axial accelerometer prior to the program intervention. RESULTS: The Active-Start intervention decreased blood pressure levels in children (p<0.01) but did not change relative to the control group. Johnson-Neyman analysis revealed a significant relationship between the effect of intervention on systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure when sedentary time was below, but not at or above, 657 and 659min per day (i.e., the effect of physical exercise disappears), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of physical activity on blood pressure could disappear in children with excessive sedentary time, which highlights the need to reduce total levels of sedentary time in the day-to-day life of young people in and out of schools.

A before-school physical activity intervention to improve cognitive parameters in children: The Active-Start study.

The aim of the study was threefold: (a) to test a before-school physical activity intervention (Active-Start) on academic performance, selective attention, and concentration capacity; (b) to test the effect of the Active-Start intervention on anthropometry, body composition, and physical fitness parameters; and (c) whether the physical fitness components are moderators of the effect of the Active-Start program on academic performance, selective attention, and concentration capacity in Chilean children. The Active-Start intervention was a RCT which comprised 170 children (8-10 years old) from three public schools with low socioeconomic status from the city of Santiago (Chile). The exercise intervention was delivered daily, before starting the first school-class (8:00-8:30 am) for 8 weeks. Changes in academic performance, selective attention and concentration capacity, anthropometric, body composition, and physical fitness parameters were measured. The analyses used were mixed regression models for repeated measures over time. No statistically significant changes in attention and concentration capacity were found. However, significant changes were seen in language (0.63; 95% CI 0.49-0.77) and mathematics (0.49; 95% CI 0.32-0.66) performance (P < .001). Also, improvements were seen in fat mass, fat-free mass, muscular, and cardiorespiratory fitness (all P < .05). The Johnson-Neyman technique revealed a significant relationship between the effect of intervention and attention and concentration when change in cardiorespiratory fitness was above, but not below, 3.05 and 0.70 mL/kg/min, respectively. Implementing before-school physical activity programs such as the Active-Start to enhance the cardiorespiratory fitness may benefit attention capacity and academic success among schoolchildren.

Can a before-school physical activity program decrease bullying victimization in disadvantaged children? The Active-Start Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of an 8-week before-school physical activity program to reduce bullying victimization among a group of socially disadvantaged children in the Active-Start study. METHOD: A non-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in three public schools classified as highly vulnerable and located in a deprived area of Santiago (Chile). A total of 5 classes participated, totaling 170 fourth grade children. The intervention was delivered before starting the first school-class (8:00-8:30 a.m.). The program lasted for 8 weeks. Primary outcome measurement on bullying victimization was assessed by the CUBE questionnaire at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction in the probability of suffering physical bullying (OR= 0.18, 95% CI, 0.04-0.82; p= .027) and verbal bullying (OR=0.13, 95% CI, 0.02-0.97; p= .046) after the 8-week program. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in an 8-week before-school physical activity intervention implemented in schools located in a disadvantaged district in Santiago (Chile) resulted in lower levels of bullying victimization among study participants. The Active-Start program may be a feasible and potentially scalable intervention option to improve the climate and pro-sociality environment at schools.

ANTECEDENTES/OBJETIVO: Evaluar la efectividad de un programa de actividad física antes de la escuela de ocho semanas para reducir el bullying en niños en desventaja social del estudio Active-Start. MÉTODO: Se realizó un ensayo controlado aleatorio no ciego en tres escuelas públicas vulnerables y ubicadas en Santiago (Chile), con un total de cinco clases e incluyendo 170 niños de Cuarto Grado. La intervención de ocho semanas se realizó cinco veces por semana antes de comenzar la primera clase (8:00­8:30 a.m.). La medida de resultado primaria fue la victimización por bullying evaluado a través del cuestionario CUBE al inicio y después de la intervención. RESULTADOS: Hubo una reducción estadísticamente significativa en la probabilidad de sufrir bullying físico (OR= 0,18, IC 95%, 0,04-0,82; p= 0,027) y verbal (OR= 0,13, IC 95%, 0,02-0,97; p= 0,046) después del programa de ocho semanas. CONCLUSIONES: La participación en una intervención de actividad física antes de la escuela de ocho semanas implementada en escuelas ubicadas en una comuna desfavorecida en Santiago (Chile) dio lugar a niveles más bajos de victimización por bullying entre sus participantes. El programa Active-Start puede ser una opción de intervención viable y potencialmente escalable para mejorar el clima y el ambiente escolar.

Can a before-school physical activity program decrease bullying victimization in disadvantaged children? The Active-Start Study / ¿Puede un programa de actividad física antes de la escuela disminuir la victimización por bullying en niños desfavorecidos? Estudio Active-Start

Background/Objective: To test the effectiveness of an 8-week before-school physical activity program to reduce bullying victimization among a group of socially disadvantaged children in the Active-Start study. Method: A non-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in three public schools classified as highly vulnerable and located in a deprived area of Santiago (Chile). A total of 5 classes participated, totaling 170 fourth grade children. The intervention was delivered before starting the first school-class (8:00-8:30 a.m.). The program lasted for 8 weeks. Primary outcome measurement on bullying victimization was assessed by the CUBE questionnaire at baseline and post-intervention. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in the probability of suffering physical bullying (OR= 0.18, 95% CI, 0.04-0.82; p= .027) and verbal bullying (OR=0.13, 95% CI, 0.02-0.97; p= .046) after the 8-week program. Conclusions: Participation in an 8-week before-school physical activity intervention implemented in schools located in a disadvantaged district in Santiago (Chile) resulted in lower levels of bullying victimization among study participants. The Active-Start program may be a feasible and potentially scalable intervention option to improve the climate and pro-sociality environment at schools

Antecedentes/Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de un programa de actividad física antes de la escuela de ocho semanas para reducir el bullying en niños en desventaja social del estudio Active-Start. Método: Se realizó un ensayo controlado aleatorio no ciego en tres escuelas públicas vulnerables y ubicadas en Santiago (Chile), con un total de cinco clases e incluyendo 170 niños de Cuarto Grado. La intervención de ocho semanas se realizó cinco veces por semana antes de comenzar la primera clase (8:00-8:30 a.m.). La medida de resultado primaria fue la victimización por bullying evaluado a través del cuestionario CUBE al inicio y después de la intervención. Resultados: Hubo una reducción estadísticamente significativa en la probabilidad de sufrir bullying físico (OR= 0,18, IC 95%, 0,04-0,82; p= 0,027) y verbal (OR= 0,13, IC 95%, 0,02-0,97; p= 0,046) después del programa de ocho semanas. Conclusiones: La participación en una intervención de actividad física antes de la escuela de ocho semanas implementada en escuelas ubicadas en una comuna desfavorecida en Santiago (Chile) dio lugar a niveles más bajos de victimización por bullying entre sus participantes. El programa Active-Start puede ser una opción de intervención viable y potencialmente escalable para mejorar el clima y el ambiente escolar