Schoenfeld Julia, Kaiser Michaela, Rieger Barbara, Haller Bernhard, Halle Martin, Siegrist Monika
Department for Preventive Sports Medicine and Sports Cardiology, TUM University Hospital, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany.
BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2025 Feb 13;11(1):e002277. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002277. eCollection 2025.
Physical activity is associated with positive health effects and improved cognitive function in children. However, these data are primarily based on cross-sectional studies. We investigated changes in cognitive function, physical fitness and physical activity in children following a school-based intervention.
The 'fit4future' study is a prospective, interventional, long-term study conducted in Germany to evaluate the impact of a comprehensive school-based health promotion programme in children. The aims of the programme have been to increase the amount of physical activity, to support a healthy diet and to improve attention and concentration performance as well as coping strategies. Schools received equipment to support physical activity, for example, action cards, brochures as well as online materials containing information regarding physical activity, nutrition, cognitive function and stress management. Teachers were trained in six workshops to enable them to promote a systematic health promotion process at schools. Parents received brochures about healthy lifestyles with practical advice for everyday family life. Additional information was provided on the programme's homepage. At the beginning of the second and the end of the third grade, children completed a differential performance test (Concentrated Task) for the assessment of concentration and attention in which they had to cross predetermined pictorial symbols on preprinted test sheets (average marked signs). Changes in the average marked signs were investigated and compared with age-specific and sex-specific norms. Physical fitness and activity were assessed using a six-item fitness test and questionnaire.
A total of 839 children (mean age 7.5±0.6 years, 48% girls) from 32 schools participated in this study. Over 2 years, average marked signs increased from 91.6±20.7 to 138.0±27.6 (p<0.001) (n=553 children, mean age 7.5±0.6 years, 51% girls). This improvement was greater than expected compared with the age-specific and sex-specific norms. The children showed significant improvements in all fitness test items and a significant increase in physical activity (p<0.001). Age, baseline average marked signs and changes in the jump-and-reach test were associated with changes in cognitive function (regression coefficient β=0.95, SE=0.23, p<0.001).
A school-based health promotion programme improved cognitive function, physical activity and physical fitness beyond the age-related improvements expected over 2 years in a large cohort of primary school children.
German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00020894, Date of registration: 2020-02-26).
体育活动对儿童健康有积极影响，并能改善其认知功能。然而，这些数据主要基于横断面研究。我们调查了一项基于学校的干预措施实施后儿童认知功能、身体素质和体育活动的变化。
“fit4future”研究是在德国进行的一项前瞻性、干预性长期研究，旨在评估一项全面的基于学校的儿童健康促进计划的影响。该计划的目标是增加体育活动量，支持健康饮食，改善注意力和专注力表现以及应对策略。学校获得了支持体育活动的设备，例如行动卡片、宣传册以及包含体育活动、营养、认知功能和压力管理信息的在线材料。教师参加了六个工作坊的培训，以便他们能够在学校推动系统的健康促进进程。家长收到了关于健康生活方式的宣传册，并附有日常生活的实用建议。该计划的主页还提供了更多信息。在二年级开始时和三年级结束时，孩子们完成了一项差异表现测试（集中任务），以评估注意力和专注力，他们必须在预先印好的测试纸上划掉预先确定的图案符号（平均划掉的符号）。研究了平均划掉符号的变化，并与特定年龄和性别的标准进行了比较。使用六项体能测试和问卷评估身体素质和活动情况。
来自32所学校的839名儿童（平均年龄7.5±0.6岁，48%为女孩）参与了本研究。在两年时间里，平均划掉符号的数量从91.6±20.7增加到了138.0±27.6（p<0.001）（n = 553名儿童，平均年龄7.5±0.6岁，51%为女孩）。与特定年龄和性别的标准相比，这种改善超出了预期。孩子们在所有体能测试项目中都有显著改善，体育活动也显著增加（p<0.001）。年龄、基线平均划掉符号的数量以及纵跳摸高测试的变化与认知功能的变化相关（回归系数β = 0.95，标准误 = 0.23，p<0.001）。
一项基于学校的健康促进计划在一大群小学生中，使认知功能、体育活动和身体素质得到了改善，超出了预期的两年内与年龄相关的改善水平。
德国临床试验注册中心（DRKS-ID：DRKS00020894，注册日期：2020年2月26日）。
