THE EFFECTS OF A 2-YEAR PHYSICAL-EDUCATION PROGRAM (SPARK) ON PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY AND FITNESS IN ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL STUDENTS

Objectives. This study evaluated a health-related physical education p rogram for fourth- and fifth-grade students designed to increase physi cal activity during physical education classes and outside of school. Methods. Seven schools were assigned to three conditions in a quasi-ex perimental design. Health-related physical education was taught by phy sical education specialists or trained classroom teachers. Students fr om these classes were compared with those in control classes. Analyses were conducted on 955 students with complete data. Results. Students spent more minutes per week being physically active in specialist-led (40 min) and teacher-led (33 min) physical education classes than in c ontrol classes (18 min; P < .001). After 2 years, girls in the special ist-led condition were superior to girls in the control condition on a bdominal strength and endurance (P < .001) and cardio-respiratory endu rance (P < .001). There were no effects on physical activity outside o f school. Conclusions. A health-related physical education curriculum can provide students with substantially more physical activity during physical education classes. Improved physical education classes can po tentially benefit 97% of elementary school students.