Evaluation of a multicomponent intervention to improve weight status and fitness in children: Upstarts

Background: Many physical activity intervention programs are unable to sustain long-term improvements in activity levels and are often not cost-effective. The aim of this study was to determine if a low-cost school- and community-centered sports coaching program was able to improve health-related fitness in children. Methods: Children from three schools in socially deprived areas took part in weekly coaching sessions over two 10 week periods during the school year. Coaching was provided by local community-based sports clubs. Body mass index (BMI), jump height, handgrip strength, and 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT) performance were assessed before and after each of the two intervention periods, to determine short- and long-term changes in health-related fitness. Age- and sex-normalized z-scores were calculated using normative UK reference data for each measure. Results: BMI z-score did not change in the short term, as expected, but importantly was significantly lower at the end of the study. Both handgrip and 20mSRT performance scores increased after the first 10 week period. Only improvements in handgrip were maintained for the whole study period. Jump height actually decreased over the entire study period. Conclusion: There were some notable benefits of this novel, cost-effective, naturalistic intervention but future studies should examine seasonal variation and motivational factors as potential confounding variables.