Physical Activity, Health & Education
Schools have been identified as key institutions for the promotion of physical activity and healthy lifestyles. In general, our research is focused on the promotion of physical activity and health among children and adolescents. A key area of interest is the impact of physical education, school sport and the school environment on health-related behaviours of students. Many of our current and proposed research projects aim to evaluate the impact of a diverse range of school and community based interventions designed to promote physical activity and prevent/treat childhood and adolescent obesity. Interventions are based on theories of behaviour change using targeted approaches for different age groups.
Projects
The classroom teacher and physical education: an investigation into key factors affecting the delivery of physical education programs in the primary school
Dr Philip Morgan
This research project aims to better understand the factors that inhibit classroom teachers' ability to teach PE and to examine the impact of these factors on the type and quality of PE programs delivered. An additional aim is to examine the quality of programming in PE by classroom teachers and to explore teachers' insights regarding solutions to improve PE. This study applied a mixed-mode design involving data source triangulation utilising semi-structured interviews with classroom teachers (n = 31) and questionnaires completed by teachers (n = 189) from a random sample of 38 schools in all regions of New South Wales, Australia. It is envisaged that results from this study will help inform how to improve the quality and type of support provided to teachers and schools to deliver PE programs.
Promoting participation in lifetime physical activities among adolescents: The LEAF (Learning to Enjoy Activity with Friends) program
Dr David Lubans
The aim of this study is to evaluate a physical activity intervention for high school students promoting lifestyle (e.g. walking) and lifetime (e.g. exercise) activity. The Learning to Enjoy Activity with Friends (LEAF) program is currently being evaluated in 3 schools in the Hunter Region. The LEAF intervention, which is delivered as a school sport option, was designed for high school students and includes participation in weekly exercise activity and information sessions. The study also incorporates a pedometer-feedback component which encourages goal setting and the accumulation of intermittent activity. To the researcher's knowledge this is the first study to incorporate a pedometer feedback component into a health-related fitness (HRF) program for adolescents. The study involves a quasi-experimental design with two treatment conditions;
1) HRF program with practical activities, pedometer feedback and information component
2) HRF program with practical activities only
Effect of a weight management program for overweight and obese children - a randomised controlled trial.
Dr Tony Okely, Dr Julie Steele, Dr Clare Collins, Dr Philip Morgan & Prof. Louise Baur
HIKCUPS (Hunter & Illawarra Kids Challenge using Parent Support) is a community-based family weight management program funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council. It is a randomised controlled trial that aims to evaluate and compare in overweight children the effectiveness of the following interventions:
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a child-centred physical activity skill development program (SHARK);
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a parent-centred dietary modification program (PRAISE); and
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a parent-centred dietary modification + child-centred physical activity skill development program.
165 overweight children in Wollongong and Newcastle aged 5-10 years were recruited to the study. The following outcomes are being measured at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months: adiposity, metabolic profile, physical activity, sedentariness, food habits and eating behaviours, motor development, self-esteem, quality of life, and an activity of daily living.
Improving nutrition and physical activity behaviour in adolescents; Program X.
Dr David Lubans, Dr Philip Morgan, Associate Professor Robin Callister & Associate Professor Clare Collins
The overall aim of the Program X study is to evaluate the impact of an innovative extra-curricular school sport programs on the physical activity and dietary behaviour of secondary school students. The intervention, developed with reference to Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, is focused on 10 key physical activity and nutrition messages that will be delivered over the study period using a variety of strategies. Eight schools will be involved in the study, with 3 schools randomly allocated to a control group (lifetime exercise activities) and 3 schools assigned to an intervention group (lifetime exercise activities plus information sessions, internet support, parent newsletters and pedometer monitoring).
Evaluation of the Benefits of a School Garden Project
Dr Philip Morgan, Dr Janet Warren, Dr David Lubans, & Associate Professor Clare Collins
The school has been identified as a key environment for health promotion. Unfortunately, many preventative studies to date have had little or no effect. There is an urgent need to investigate novel ways of integrating nutrition education, food provision and the school environment to provide consistent messages to children. This is a crucial aspect to increasing nutritional awareness and a key obesity prevention strategy. The study seeks to investigate the impact of a school garden on the teaching of a nutrition curriculum across several domains.
Specifically the following will be evaluated:
This is a novel pilot study for the Hunter region. The ethos underlying it is one of perceived health, education and social benefits. If the current pilot study indicates positive results in children's knowledge, food preferences and quality of school life it has the potential to be rolled out on a larger scale and radically change the approach to food, nutrition and health education in schools.