Contribution of school recess to daily physical activity : systematic review and evidence appraisal

Reilly, John J. and Johnston, Grant and McIntosh, Stuart and Martin, Anne (2016) Contribution of school recess to daily physical activity : systematic review and evidence appraisal. Health Behavior and Policy Review, 3 (6). pp. 581-589. (https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.3.6.7)

[thumbnail of Reilly-etal-HBPR-2016-Contribution-of-school-recess-to-daily-physical]
Preview
Text. Filename: Reilly_etal_HBPR_2016_Contribution_of_school_recess_to_daily_physical.pdf
Accepted Author Manuscript
License: Strathprints license 1.0

Download (460kB)| Preview

Abstract

The present study aimed to estimate school recess moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA). A systematic review was carried out in MEDLINE and SportDiscus to identify observational studies where MVPA had been measured objectively during school recess. Study quality was assessed formally. Twenty-four eligible studies in primary school pupils (N= 5,778 individuals), revealed a weighted mean of 12 minutes MVPA per school day. Only two eligible studies were identified in high school pupils (N= 399 individuals). The evidence was generally of moderately high quality. Recess makes a small contribution to daily MVPA. Substantial policy effort is likely to be needed if recess is to make a more useful contribution to MVPA among children and adolescents.