Physical Activity and Health Promotion in primary school: monitoring the effectiveness

INTRODUCTION. Scientific evidences demonstrate that regular Physical Activity (PA) is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. PA in young improves health status (blood pressure, blood lipid profile, overweight and obesity, bone mass density), and is associated with higher levels of fitness and mental well-being. Promoting an active lifestyle implies the availability of measuring instruments to evaluate starting needs and the results reached. OBJECTIVES. The aim of our study is to evaluate a system of collecting data useful for defining the “exercise” profile of children in relation to some individual (age, gender, anthropometric measures, motivation, school performance) and socio-environmental determinants. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The longitudinal study enrolled 245 primary school children (9-11 years aged) living in three different areas of the city of L’Aquila (Abruzzo, Italy) by two year (2004 and 2005). The instruments used are questionnaires (self-report on leisure time activities of children - playing, TV watching, sleeping, reading – designed to measure spontaneous physical activity; self-report concerning the Organised PA (OPA) of the children and their parents); EUROFIT testing children’s physical fitness as motor ability; anthropometric measures (height, weight, lean/fat mass); school performance scales. The association between different characteristics was evaluated by t-test and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS. OPA appears associated to educational level of parents, and has a significant influence on anthropometric measures and school performance. In a multiple regression model children that practice OPA show higher level on a 5 point scale of linguistic performance (4,3 versus 3,3) and overall school performance (4,6 versus 3,8) independently by other variables determinant (p<0,05). In our sample motor ability seems depend much more on body mass than on OPA. CONCLUSION. In a primary school PA promotion is a important instrument for health promotion but is even a strategic mean for reaching educational goals and wellness enhancement for global school setting.