An Ecological Approach to Increasing Physical Activity in Primary School Children

Obesity amongst children and young people is increasing, and it is predicted that over half of the UK population will be obese by 2050. Daily physical activity is effective in preventing and treating overweight and obesity, yet many children do not participate in enough physical activity to be beneficial to health. Behaviour change interventions to increase children‘s physical activity have demonstrated limited impact which is not maintained over the longer-term. The social ecology model recognises that interventions are unlikely to work in the absence of environmental supports. This has led researchers to recommend multi-component interventions in schools, with support through school policies and strategies. This research addresses four key research questions:
1. What are the relationships between the social, economic, physical and political elements of the school environment and physical activity?
2. What are the views, perceptions and experiences of physical activity and the school environment amongst a sample of primary school children?
3. Will an ecological physical activity intervention increase physical activity levels in primary school children in the immediate and longer term (6 months)?
4. Will an ecological intervention change the relationships between pupil perceptions, the school environment, and physical activity?