Physical activity and academic achievement across the curriculum: Results from a 3-year cluster-randomized trial

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Issue Date
2017-02-11Author
Donnelly, Joseph E.
Hillman, Charles H.
Greene, Jerry L.
Hansen, David M.
Gibson, Cheryl A.
Sullivan, Debra K.
Poggio, John
Mayo, Matthew S.
Lambourne, Kate
Szabo-Reed, Amanda N.
Herrmann, Stephen D.
Honas, Jeffery J.
Scudder, Mark R.
Betts, Jessica L.
Henley, Katherine
Hunt, Suzanne L.
Washburn, Richard A.
Publisher
Elsevier
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, author accepted manuscript
Rights
© 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc.
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We compared changes in academic achievement across 3 years between children in elementary schools receiving the Academic Achievement and Physical Activity Across the Curriculum intervention (A + PAAC), in which classroom teachers were trained to deliver academic lessons using moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) compared to a non-intervention control. Elementary schools in eastern Kansas (n = 17) were cluster randomized to A + PAAC (N = 9, target ≥ 100 min/week) or control (N = 8). Academic achievement (math, reading, spelling) was assessed using the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-Third Edition (WIAT-III) in a sample of children (A + PAAC = 316, Control = 268) in grades 2 and 3 at baseline (Fall 2011) and repeated each spring across 3 years. On average 55 min/week of A + PACC lessons were delivered each week across the intervention. Baseline WIAT-III scores (math, reading, spelling) were significantly higher in students in A + PAAC compared with control schools and improved in both groups across 3 years. However, linear mixed modeling, accounting for baseline between group differences in WIAT-III scores, ethnicity, family income, and cardiovascular fitness, found no significant impact of A + PAAC on any of the academic achievement outcomes as determined by non-significant group by time interactions. A + PAAC neither diminished or improved academic achievement across 3-years in elementary school children compared with controls. Our target of 100 min/week of active lessons was not achieved; however, students attending A + PAAC schools received an additional 55 min/week of MVPA which may be associated with both physical and mental health benefits, without a reduction in time devoted to academic instruction.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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Citation
Physical activity and academic achievement across the curriculum: Results from a 3-year cluster-randomized trial
Joseph E. Donnelly, Charles H. Hillman, Jerry L. Greene, David M. Hansen, Cheryl A. Gibson, Debra K. Sullivan, John Poggio, Matthew S. Mayo, Kate Lambourne, Amanda N. Szabo-Reed, Stephen D. Herrmann, Jeffery J. Honas, Mark R. Scudder, Jessica L. Betts, Katherine Henley, Suzanne L. Hunt, Richard A. Washburn
Prev Med. 2017 Jun; 99: 140–145. Published online 2017 Feb 11. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.02.006
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