Active Schools in Chile: Impact on Fitness, Physical Activity, and Sports Participation

NCT07597460 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 256/2023
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 209
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Study Rationale: Currently, a significant proportion of children in Chile do not meet recommended physical activity levels, which may adversely affect their health and development. The school environment provides an ideal setting to promote healthy habits. This study was designed to evaluate whether a school-based program incorporating physical activity, sports, and health education can improve physical fitness and increase the time children dedicate to physical activity practice. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of a two-year school-based intervention on physical activity levels, physical fitness (measured by upper body, lower body, and abdominal muscular strength), and sports participation among Chilean schoolchildren. How the study works: This study is a cluster-randomized clinical trial incorporating a control group and a pre-post design. Participating schools were allocated into two groups: Intervention Group: Participated in a specialized program focused on physical activity and the promotion of sports practice throughout two school years. Control Group: Continued with the standard school curriculum and regular physical education classes for the same period. What was measured: At baseline and after the two-year intervention, the following outcomes were assessed: Physical Activity Levels: Measured via accelerometry; Physical Fitness: Assessed through muscular strength tests, including upper limb strength (handgrip strength using a dynamometer), lower limb strength (standing long jump test), and abdominal strength (60-second curl-up test). Sports Participation: Evaluated through self-reports of involvement in organized sports. Researchers compared pre- and post-intervention data between the intervention and control groups to determine if children in the special program showed significantly greater improvements compared to those in the standard routine.

Conditions

Physical Fitness; Physical Activity; Sedentary Behaviors; Health Promotion; Child Health; Sports

Keywords

School-based intervention; Accelerometry; Physical activity; Sedentary behavior; Sports participation; Children

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from Baseline in the levels of physical activity.

  Average daily minutes spent at different levels of physical activity, objectively measured using ActiGraph accelerometers worn over 7 consecutive days.

  Baseline (Month 2-3) and End of Intervention (Month 27-30)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change from Baseline in Upper Limb Strength

  Baseline (Month 2-3) and End of Intervention (Month 27-30)

• Change from Baseline in Sports Participation Frequency

  Baseline (Month 2-3) and End of Intervention (Month 27-30)

• Change from Baseline in Sedentary Behavior

  Baseline (Month 2-3) and End of Intervention (Month 27-30).

• Change from Baseline in Lower Limb Strength

  Baseline (Month 2-3) and End of Intervention (Month 27-30)

• Change from Baseline in Abdominal Muscle Strength

  Baseline (Month 2-3) and End of Intervention (Month 27-30)

Study Arms (2)

Control Group

OTHER

Students followed the standard Chilean school curriculum, including mandated physical education classes (twice weekly) and unstructured recess. This group did not receive any additional intervention, specialized equipment, or health workshops provided by the research team throughout the two-year study period. All school activities for this group remained consistent with the national educational guidelines.

Other: Regular Physical Education

School-based Intervention Program

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Students participated in a two-year, multicomponent school-based program designed to promote physical activity and sports participation. The intervention consisted of three core elements: (1) Active Recesses, involving structured and supervised physical activities during school breaks; (2) Enhanced Physical Education, utilizing high-engagement pedagogical strategies; and (3) Health Education workshops for students and the school community focused on active lifestyles. All activities were integrated into the regular school calendar.

Behavioral: Active Schools Program

Interventions

Active Schools Program BEHAVIORAL

The intervention was conducted two to three times per week, depending on the specific schedule of each school. In addition to enhanced physical education classes, educational content related to the benefits of healthy behaviors was integrated across various academic subjects to increase students' awareness. During physical education classes, activities designed to maximize PA levels and improve muscular strength were implemented. Additionally, strategies to foster active recess were established, including the provision of equipment such as jump ropes, medicine balls, and resistance bands for recreational and playful activities. Specific areas were also organized for PA during breaks, featuring floor and wall markings for game and exercise stations, accompanied by instructional posters suggesting activities. These actions aimed to encourage movement and increase students' engagement in PA throughout the school day.

School-based Intervention Program

Regular Physical Education OTHER

Participants in the control group followed the standard Chilean school curriculum, as mandated by the Ministry of Education. This included the regular Physical Education program (typically two sessions per week) and standard school recess periods, without any additional structured physical activity, specialized equipment, or health education workshops provided by the research team. No specific intervention was implemented to modify physical activity levels, muscular strength, or sports participation patterns during the study period.

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 9 Years - 11 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Students enrolled in the third grade of elementary school at the selected schools.
• Minimum enrollment period of at least one year at the current school.
• Residing in the same municipality where the school is located.
• Open to all students regardless of migration status.

You may not qualify if:

• Students following any type of restrictive diet related to previously diagnosed chronic diseases.
• Diagnosis of chronic conditions that require dietary or physical limitations (e.g., diabetes, celiac disease, renal disease, among others).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad de Santiago de Chile: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidad de Santiago de Chile

Santiago, Chile

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity; Sedentary Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2026
• First Posted: May 19, 2026
• Study Start: December 11, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 15, 2025
• Study Completion: March 2, 2026
• Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CL (1)