Changing the School Environment to Increase Physical Activity in Children
Open accessAbstract
We examined the hypothesis that elementary school‐age children will be more physically active while attending school in a novel, activity‐permissive school environment compared to their traditional school environment. Twenty‐four children were monitored with a single‐triaxial accelerometer worn on the thigh. The students attended school in three different environments: traditional school with chairs and desks, an activity‐permissive environment, and finally their traditional school with desks which encouraged standing. Data from the school children were compared with another group of age‐matched children (n = 16) whose physical activity was monitored during summer vacation. When children attended school in their traditional environment, they moved an average (mean ± s.d.) of 71 ± 0.4 m/s 2. When the children attended school in the activity‐permissive environment, they moved an average of 115 ± 3 m/s 2. The children moved 71 ± 0.7 m/s 2 while attending the traditional school with standing desks. Children moved significantly more while attending school in the activity‐permissive environment compared to the amount that they moved in either of the traditional school environments (P < 0.0001 for both). Comparing children's activity while they were on summer vacation (113 ± 8 m/s 2) to school‐bound children in their traditional environment showed significantly more activity for the children on summer vacation (P < 0.0001). The school children in the activity‐permissive environment were as active as children on summer vacation. Children will move more in an activity‐permissive environment. Strategies to increase the activity of school children may involve re‐designing the school itself.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Studies in primary schools have successfully implemented changes to the school layout or classroom design to nudge pupils to walk more or substitute sitting with standing, regardless of demographic characteristics and motivation.
“In recent years, studies in primary schools have successfully implemented changes to the school layout or classroom design, in order to ‘nudge’ pupils to walk more or substitute sitting with standing, regardless of demographic characteristics and motivation.”
From The school environment and adolescent physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a mixed-studies systematic review (2016) · cites this paper as [83]
Building a new type of 'activity permissive' school environment designed specifically to encourage an active learning environment showed promising results.
“Furthermore, building a new type of ‘activity permissive’ school environment designed specifically to encourage an active learning environment also showed promising results 83.”
From The school environment and adolescent physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a mixed-studies systematic review (2016) · cites this paper as [83]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the United States, 1999-2004
Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Curtin, L. R., McDowell, M. A., Tabak, C. J., & Flegal, K. M. (2006) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.295.13.1549 · Cited by 8,720 · see citing works
Biomechanics and motor control of human movement
Winter, D. A. (1990) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.28-2135 · Cited by 8,496 · see citing works
Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement
Winter, D. A. (2009) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470549148 · Cited by 6,162 · see citing works
Actual causes of death in the United States
McGinnis, J. M. (1993) · JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association · doi:10.1001/jama.1993.03510180077038 · Cited by 5,480 · see citing works
Actual Causes of Death in the United States, 2000
Mokdad, A. H. (2004) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.291.10.1238 · Cited by 5,211 · see citing works
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the United States
Crespo, C. J., & Smit, E. (2003) · Human Kinetics eBooks · doi:10.5040/9781718206601.ch-001 · Cited by 4,382 · see citing works
Obesity and the Environment: Where Do We Go from Here?
Hill, J. O., Wyatt, H. R., Reed, G. W., & Peters, J. C. (2003) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1079857 · Cited by 2,180 · see citing works
Self-citationSocial and Economic Consequences of Overweight in Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Gortmaker, S. L., Must, A., Perrin, J. M., Sobol, A. M., & Dietz, W. H. (1993) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm199309303291406 · Cited by 1,612 · see citing works
Risks and consequences of childhood and adolescent obesity
Must, A., & Strauss, R. (1999) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0800852 · Cited by 1,523 · see citing works
Research Methods in Biomechanics
Robertson, D. G. E., Caldwell, G. E., Hamill, J., Kamen, G., & Whittlesey, S. N. (2014) · Human Kinetics eBooks · doi:10.5040/9781492595809 · Cited by 1,233 · see citing works
Using objective physical activity measures with youth: How many days of monitoring are needed?
Trost, S. G., Pate, R. R., Freedson, P. S., Sallis, J. F., & Taylor, W. C. (2000) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1097/00005768-200002000-00025 · Cited by 1,136 · see citing works
Television Viewing as a Cause of Increasing Obesity Among Children in the United States, 1986-1990
Gortmaker, S. L. (1996) · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · doi:10.1001/archpedi.1996.02170290022003 · Cited by 1,108 · see citing works
Lignac, G. O. E. (1951) · PubMed · Cited by 1,013 · see citing works
Davison, K. K., & Lawson, C. T. (2006) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/1479-5868-3-19 · Cited by 966 · see citing works
ECONOMIC CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF OBESITY
Finkelstein, E. A., Ruhm, C. J., & Kosa, K. (2004) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.26.021304.144628 · Cited by 749 · see citing works
Interindividual variation in posture allocation: possible role in human obesity
Levine, J. A., Lanningham-Foster, L. M., McCrady, S. K., Krizan, A. C., Olson, L. R., Kane, P. H., Jensen, M. D., & Clark, M. M. (2005) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1106561 · Cited by 705 · see citing works
Self-citationOverweight in Childhood and Adolescence
Dietz, W. H. (2004) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmp048008 · Cited by 617 · see citing works
Linking obesity and activity level with children's television and video game use
Vandewater, E. A., Shim, M.-S. P., & Caplovitz, A. G. (2004) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2003.10.003 · Cited by 604 · see citing works
Changes in the distribution of body mass index of adults and children in the US population
Flegal, K. M., & Troiano, R. P. (2000) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0801232 · Cited by 512 · see citing works
The association of school environments with youth physical activity
Sallis, J. F., Conway, T. L., Prochaska, J. J., McKenzie, T. L., Marshall, S. J., & Brown, M. (2001) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.91.4.618 · Cited by 499 · see citing works
How many days of pedometer monitoring predict weekly physical activity in adults?
TUDORLOCKE, C., BURKETT, L., REIS, J., AINSWORTH, B., MACERA, C., & WILSON, D. (2005) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.06.003 · Cited by 479 · see citing works
Energy Expenditure of Sedentary Screen Time Compared With Active Screen Time for Children
Lanningham‐Foster, L., Jensen, T. B., Foster, R. C., Redmond, A. B., Walker, B. A., Heinz, D., & Levine, J. A. (2006) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.2006-1087 · Cited by 384 · see citing works
Self-citationThe effect of multicolor playground markings on children's physical activity level during recess
Stratton, G., & Mullan, E. (2005) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2005.07.009 · Cited by 297 · see citing works
Interventions to prevent obesity in children and adolescents: a systematic literature review
Flodmark, C., Marcus, C., & Britton, M. (2006) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803290 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Environmental Influences, Physical Activity, and Weight Status in 8- to 16-Year-Olds
Dowda, M. C., Ainsworth, B. E., Addy, C. L., Saunders, R. P., & Riner, W. F. (2001) · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · doi:10.1001/archpedi.155.6.711 · Cited by 246 · see citing works
Folate, DNA methylation and colo-rectal cancer
Pufulete, M., Emery, P. W., & Sanders, T. A. B. (2003) · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · doi:10.1079/pns2003265 · Cited by 214 · see citing works
Does Reactivity Exist in Children When Measuring Activity Levels with Pedometers?
Vincent, S. D., & Pangrazi, R. P. (2002) · Pediatric Exercise Science · doi:10.1123/pes.14.1.56 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Reilly, J. J., & McDowell, Z. C. (2003) · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · doi:10.1079/pns2003276 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Perceived environment and physical activity in youth
Fein, A. J., Plotnikoff, R. C., Wild, T. C., & Spence, J. C. (2004) · International Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1207/s15327558ijbm1103_2 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Characteristics of School Campuses and Physical Activity Among Youth
Cradock, A. L., Melly, S. J., Allen, J. G., Morris, J. S., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2007) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2007.04.009 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Age-Specific Impact of Obesity on Prevalence and Costs of Diabetes and Dyslipidemia
Finkelstein, E. A., Brown, D. S., Trogdon, J. G., Segel, J. E., & Ben-Joseph, R. H. (2006) · Value in Health · doi:10.1111/j.1524-4733.2006.00154.x · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Laboratory Measurement of Posture Allocation and Physical Activity in Children
Lanningham‐Foster, L., Jensen, T. B., McCrady, S. K., Nysse, L. J., Foster, R. C., & Levine, J. A. (2005) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/01.mss.0000175050.03506.bf · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Self-citationTrends in Childhood Obesity Research: A Brief Analysis of NIH-Supported Efforts
Huang, T. T. ‐., & Horlick, M. N. B. (2007) · The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics · doi:10.1111/j.1748-720x.2007.00119.x · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Optimization of accelerometers for measuring walking
Foster, R. C., Lanningham‐Foster, L., & Levine, J. A. (2008) · Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part P Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology · doi:10.1243/17543371jset3 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Morton, K. L., Atkin, A. J., Corder, K., Suhrcke, M., & van Sluijs, E. M. F. (2016) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/obr.12352 · Cited by 325 · see citing works
“Furthermore, building a new type of ‘activity permissive’ school environment designed specifically to encourage an active learning environment also showed promising results (83).”
BackgroundThe Impact of Stand-Biased Desks in Classrooms on Calorie Expenditure in Children
Benden, M. E., Blake, J. J., Wendel, M. L., & Huber, J. C. (2011) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2010.300072 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
A framework for understanding school based physical environmental influences on childhood obesity
Harrison, F., & Jones, A. P. (2012) · Health & Place · doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.12.009 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
- Authors
- Lanningham‐Foster, L., Foster, R. C., McCrady, S. K., Manohar, C. U., Jensen, T. B., Mitre, N. G., Hill, J. O., & Levine, J. A.
- Affiliations
- Mayo Clinic (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hill, James O.
- Venue
- Obesity
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-08
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1849-1853
- ISSN
- 1930-7381 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-739X
- PMC
- PMC2690697
- OpenAlex
- W2057569201
- Cited by
- 109
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 4.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Obesity (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (P30DK050456, R01DK063226, DK50456, R01DK066270, DK 63226, DK 66270, DK-56650, R01DK056650)
- National Center for Research Resources (M01-RR00 585, M01RR000585)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 52001, R21HD052001)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- physical activity, school environment, standing desks, elementary school students, accelerometer-measured activity, school design, sedentary behavior
- MeSH terms
- Child, Environment Design, Female, Humans, Male, Motor Activity, Permissiveness, School Health Services, Schools, Seasons
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
