Physical Activity Breaks and Facilities in US Secondary Schools

• Published in: The Journal of school health 2014-11, Vol.84 (11), p.697-705
• Main Authors: Hood, Nancy E., Colabianchi, Natalie, Terry-McElrath, Yvonne M., O'Malley, Patrick M., Johnston, Lloyd D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administrators; Adolescent; Age Differences; Biological and medical sciences; Black or African American - statistics & numerical data; Body Composition; Body Height; Body Weight; Child; Childhood obesity; environment; Exercise; Geographic Location; Grade 10; Grade 12; Grade 8; Health aspects; High School Students; Hispanic or Latino - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle School Students; Miscellaneous; Motor Activity - physiology; Obesity; Obesity in children; Overweight - epidemiology; Overweight - prevention & control; Physical Activities; physical activity; Physical Activity Level; policy; Prevalence; Prevention and actions; Public Facilities - statistics & numerical data; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Racial Differences; Recreational Facilities; School Size; Schools - statistics & numerical data; Self Report; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Influences; Students; Students - statistics & numerical data; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0022-4391; 1746-1561
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12206

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Research on physical activity breaks and facilities (indoor and outdoor) in secondary schools is relatively limited. METHODS School administrators and students in nationally representative samples of 8th (middle school) and 10th/12th grade (high school) students were surveyed annually from 2008‐2009 to 2011‐2012. School administrators reported information about physical activity breaks and facilities. Students self‐reported height, weight, and physical activity. RESULTS The prevalence of physical activity breaks and indoor and outdoor facilities (dichotomized by median split) differed significantly by region of the country, school size, student race/ethnicity, and school socioeconomic status (SES). Breaks were associated with lower odds of overweight (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83‐1.00) and obesity (AOR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.75‐0.99) among middle school students. Among low‐SES middle school students and schools, higher indoor facilities were associated with lower rates of overweight and obesity. Among high school students, higher indoor and outdoor facilities were associated with 19‐42% higher odds of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity. CONCLUSIONS Physical activity breaks and school facilities may help to address high rates of overweight/obesity and low physical activity levels among secondary students, especially lower‐SES students. Students in all schools should have equal access to these resources.