Switch-Play

Guide to Effective Programs
for Children and Youth

Switch-Play

OVERVIEW

Switch-Play uses behavioral modification and/or fundamental movement skills training to decrease obesity, increase physical activity, and decrease TV/computer time among late-elementary school children. Behavioral modification training increased physical activity, but had a negative impact on TV viewing. Fundamental movement skills training increased physical activity and increased boys’ (but not girls’) enjoyment of physical activities. Finally, a combination of both behavioral modification and fundamental movement skills training reduced children’s likelihood of being overweight or obese and reduced BMI. All these impacts were reported at post-test and sustained through the 6- and 12-month follow-ups.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target population: Late elementary school-aged children

The goals of switch play are to prevent excess weight gain, reduce time spent in front of the TV or computer, promote more physical activity, and improve fundamental movement skills. This experimental evaluation included three treatment conditions: Behavioral Modification, focuses on teaching children to reduce TV/computer time and increase physical activity via contracts and advocacy; Fundamental Movement Skills, focuses on teaching children to run, throw, dodge, strike, jump, and kick; and a third condition that combines Behavioral Modification and Fundamental Movement Skills. Behavioral Modification and Fundamental Movement Skills each last 19 weeks (the combined Behavioral Modification/Fundamental Movement Skills lasts 38 weeks), with one 40-50 minute class per week. It takes place in schools and is administered by university researchers.

EVALUATION OF PROGRAM

Salmon, J., Ball, K., Hume, C., Booth, M., Crawford, D. (2008) Outcomes of a group-randomized trial to prevent excess weight gain, reduce screen behaviours and promote physical activity in 10-year-old children: Switch-Play. International Journal of Obesity, 32, 601-612.

Evaluated population: A total of 311 children (49% boys), average age 10 years 8 months, were recruited from three public schools in low socioeconomic areas of Melbourne, Australia. A 78 percent response rate was achieved. Children were in groups as follows: 66 children to the Behavioral Modification group, 74 children to the Fundamental Movement Skills group, 93 children to the combined Behavioral Modification/ Fundamental Movement Skills group, and 62 children to the control group.

Approach:

Seventeen classrooms were randomized to treatment and control conditions by drawing a ticket from a container. The control group received the usual curriculum. Measured outcomes include BMI (weight and height), physical activity (using accelerometers), self-reported TV and computer behaviors, self-reported enjoyment of physical activity, and fundamental movement skills (throw, strike, and kick; rated by staff). Also assessed were whether children developed negative body self-images as a result of the intervention, and food intake as a control variable. Assessments were administered at baseline, post intervention, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. At baseline, girls in different groups had different BMI’s, but these differences were accounted for in the analysis. The researchers adjusted for clustering within classes.

Results:

The following results were observed at post-test and/or at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups.

Behavioral Modification. Compared to the control group, the Behavioral Modification group watched more television per week (negative impact), had more movement counts per day, and spent more time engaged in vigorous physical activity. All these impacts were found at post-test and maintained through the 12-month follow-up.

Significant moderation by gender was found. Compared to boys in the control group, boys in this group had more movement counts per day and spent more time in vigorous-intensity physical activity per day. Compared to girls in the control group, girls in this group had more movement counts and more moderate-intensity physical activity. Compared to girls in the control group, girls in this group exhibited higher fundamental movement skills. All these impacts were maintained through the 12-month follow-up.

Fundamental Movement Skills. Compared to the control group, the Fundamental Movement Skills group had more movement counts per day, spent more time in both moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity, and reported greater enjoyment of physical activities. All these impacts were found at post-test and maintained through the 12-month follow-up.

Significant moderation by gender was found. Compared to boys in the control group, boys in this group had more movement counts per day and more vigorous-intensity physical activity per day. Compared to boys in the control group, boys in this group reported greater physical activity enjoyment. Compared to girls in the control group, girls in this group exhibited higher fundamental movement skills. Compared to boys in the control group, boys in this group reported higher satisfaction with their body shape; this impact was unexpected. All these impacts were maintained through the 12-month follow-up.

Behavioral Modification/Fundamental Movement Skills. Compared to the control group, the Behavioral Modification/Fundamental Movement Skills group was less likely to be overweight or obese and had lower BMI, and these differences were found at post-test and maintained through the 12-month follow-up.

Significant moderation by gender was found. Compared to boys in the control group, boys in this group had more vigorous-intensity physical activity per day, but this impact was not sustained through the 6- and 12-month follow-ups.

Limitations. The finding that boys in the Fundamental Movement Skills group reported greater enjoyment of physical activity at post-test and follow-up appears attributable to pre-existing baseline differences, in which boys in the Fundamental Movement Skills group already reported greater enjoyment of physical activity. Similarly, at baseline, girls in the Behavioral Modification group already reported more movement counts per day and spent more time in moderate physical activity compared with girls in the control group. Authors could have done a better job of controlling for baseline differences between treatment and control groups.

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

References

Contact Information

Jo Salmon

Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research

School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences

Deakin University

221 Burwood Highway

Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia

jsalmon@deakin.edu.au

KEYWORDS: Children (3-11), Males and Females (Co-ed), School-based, Elementary, Skills training, Obesity, Other Physical Health

Program information last updated on 11/09/11.