Middle School Physical Activity and Nutrition (M-SPAN)

OVERVIEW

M-SPAN is an intervention with environmental, policy, and social marketing components. The program was evaluated to determine its impact on the physical activity and fat intake of middle school students. Researchers found that the students in experimental schools had greater increases in physical activity than students in control schools; however, significant effects were found for boys, they weren’t for girls. The intervention did not result in significant differences in terms of fat intake. A significant reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) was found for boys in the experimental group, but not for girls.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target population: Middle school (grades 6-8) students on campus

M-SPAN aims to increase the students' energy expenditure from physical activity and decrease grams of total and saturated fat purchased at or brought to school by the students. Through five 3-hour staff development sessions, student physical activity time are increased, teacher instructional skills are improved, and new physical activity curriculum materials are provided.

Three groups form to discuss ways to implement changes in the physical activity and nutritional aspects of the school. Administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and students meet in three 90-minute sessions over two years to discuss policies to improve physical activity and nutrition plans and goals. Student health committees, made up of 9 to 12 students, conducted monthly activities such as taste tests and after school activities. Parents were educated through school newsletters, posters, and brochures at PTA meetings and open houses. Parents were exposed to strategies to improve students' physical activity and nutritional habits.

These groups change both the physical activity and nutritional practices at school. Physical activity is promoted before and after school and after lunch by teachers and through programs, flyers, school bulletins, newsletters, and PTA meetings. Equipment is made available for students to use for physical activity. Physical education teachers give class credit for physical activity conducted outside of physical education class.

In the nutrition aspect of the program, child nutrition service staff is given 11 hours of training with the goal of reducing the fat content in foods through changing the purchasing, preparation, and serving procedures. Vendors select low-fat items and donate foods for sampling and feedback. Parents are encouraged to supply their children with low-fat foods to bring from home for lunch, as well. Newsletters, signs, meetings, and contests keep the students and teachers aware of the nutrition changes in the school.

The cost of a standard training for up to 40 attendees is approximately $2,700.

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

Sallis, J.F. et al (2003). Environmental Interventions for Eating and Physical Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Middle Schools. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 24(3), 209-217.

Evaluated population: Twenty-four public middle schools in San Diego County, California participated, with a mean enrollment across schools of 1109 students. Forty-nine percent of participants were female, 44.5% were nonwhite, 39.5% received free or reduced schools meals, and 36.4% were bused to school.

Approach: Schools were randomly assigned to the M-SPAN intervention group or a control group. Physical activity was assessed at baseline, one year, and two years after baseline by observation of activity during physical education class and during play and leisure activities before, during, and after school. Nutrition was assessed at baseline, one year, and two years after baseline by documenting the lunch menu, bag lunches, and interviewing cooks. Items sold at student stores were recorded by observers.

Results: Researchers found that the schools in the experimental group increased their level of physical activity over time at a greater rate than schools in the control group (a large effect size of 0.93). Significant impacts were found for boys (a large effect size of 1.10), but not for girls (a small effect size of 0.37). Boys in the experimental group increased their physical activity both in and out of physical education (in about equal amounts), but girls in this group increased their physical activity mostly during physical education. There were no significant differences found in total fat, nor saturated fat intake across schools and no data were available to allow for gender-specific analyses. The intervention was found to significantly reduce BMI among boys in the experimental group when compared to the control group, but no differences were found for girls.

McKenzie, T.L., Sallis, J.F., Prochaska, J.J., Conway, T.L., Marshall, S.J., & Rosengard, P. (2004). Evaluation of a Two-Year Middle-School Physical Education Intervention: M-SPAN. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(8), 1382-1388.

Evaluated Population: Twenty-four public middle schools in San Diego County, California participated, with a mean enrollment across schools of 1109 students. Forty-nine percent of participants were female, 45% were nonwhite, and 39 % received free or reduced schools meals.

Approach: This intervention was focused on physical education classes only. Only the five 3-hour sessions described in the previous study were provided in this follow-up. Observations were conducted using SOFIT (System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time), which provides records of student activity levels, the lesson context, and teacher behavior. physical education classes were observed during 11 randomly selected days at each school. In addition, researchers administered surveys to students which asked how much they enjoyed and attended physical education classes.

Results: There was a significant increase in the amount of time intervention students spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity during physical education classes when compared with the control group (a large effect size of 0.88). The impact was larger among boys (a large effect size of 0.98) than with girls (a medium effect size of 0.68). There was no significant impact on the proportion of classtime students spent engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity or on physical education enjoyment.

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

http://www.sparkpe.org/physical-education/middle-school/

http://www.sparkpe.org/physical-education/middle-school/program-prices/

References

Sallis, J.F. et al (2003). Environmental Interventions for Eating and Physical Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Middle Schools. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 24(3), 209-217.

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

Evaluated participant ages: 6-11, 12-14

Program components: school-based

Measured outcomes: physical health

Keywords: Adolescents, Middle School, Co-ed, School Based, Nutrition, Conditions

Program information last updated on 10/4/08.