Furthermore, the project aimed to describe CRF levels and CVD risk factor levels in rural nine-year-old children and to examine the association between CRF and clustering of CVD risk factors in these children (cross-sectional data).

 

The school as an arena for physical activity interventions The school setting is defined as an ideal environment for population-based physical activity interventions, and may be the only means in society of reaching a large number of children from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The schools can therefore play a key role in promoting physical activity for children.

 

The intervention
Two-hundred-and-fifty-six children from two different age groups (born 1995 and 1996) participated in this controlled intervention. The children were nine-years old when the intervention started (beginning of the 4th grade) and 11-years-old when the intervention finished (the end of the 5th grade). 

 

The 60-minute daily mandatory physical activity lesson was planned and organized by expert physical education teachers. Each lesson was planned to include a variety of activities that were enjoyable and exciting for the children, and 15 minutes of each lesson were planned to be at vigorous intensity, meaning that the children should be sweating and out of breath.

 

Measurements
CRF (peak oxygen uptake) was measured directly on a continuous progressive treadmill protocol. CVD risk factors were measured from fasting blood samples and a blood pressure measurement. Anthropometric variables like height, body mass and waist circumference was also measured. The data collection started in September 2004 and was completed in June 2007.
 

Results
The intervention resulted in a significantly greater beneficial development in peak oxygen uptake, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and triglyceride in intervention-school children than in control-school children. No significant differences in changes were observed in waist circumference, body mass index and the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance between the two groups.

 

Furthermore, the intervention, primarily carried out at moderate intensity, showed that those children in the I-school with the least favorable starting point experienced the most beneficial effect of the intervention. The cross-sectional data suggested that low CRF, and low CRF and high fatness combined were highly associated with clustered CVD risk.

 

Geir Kåre Resaland (18.02.1971) was born in Sogndal. He obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in sport biology from Sogn og Fjordane University College (SFUC) and NSSS. Geir Kåre started his PhD in 2004, and has been supervised by Professor Lars Bo Andersen and Professor Sigmund Alfred Anderssen. Geir Kåre is today employed full time at the SFUC.

Evaluation committee
Leader:  Associate Prof Truls Raastad, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
1. Opponent:  PD Dr. med. Susi Kriemler, University of Basel, Switzerland
2. Opponent: Professor dr JWR Twisk, VUmc medical centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

Programme
10.15 – 11.00 Trial lecture: Is physical activity a good tool to prevent childhood obesity? Discuss the available evidence and the impact this evidence should have on guidelines for physical activity for children.

 

13.00 – 16.00 Defense

 

Both the trial lecture and the defense are open to the public.