The Japanese Association of School Health

Research Note

ISSN ONLINE : 1880-2400

[School Health Vol.11, 9-19, 2015]

Practical Idea for Schools to Promote Physical Activity among Children for the Prevention of Childhood Obesity -Through Investigation of “Health Promoting School” in Kent, U.K.-

Tokie Izaki*

  • *Graduate School of Tokyo Kasei University
  • 1-18-1 Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo, 173-8602 Japan
  • r150001@tokyo-kasei.ac.jp

Received January 27, 2015 ; Accepted September 1, 2015

Keywords:
School health, Physical activity, Obesity

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Abstracts

Objective: This study explore perspectives on the promotion of physical activity for the prevention of obesity in childhood. Specifically how schools can effectively encourage children-both girls and boys from different social and cultural backgrounds, to engage in more physical activity will be investigated.
Methods: To generate practical idea to promote physical activity among young children, between March and November in 2004, interviews were employed with the heads of Physical Education departments from four secondary schools in the United Kingdom suggested by Kent Health and Education Partnership.
Results: The following themes were identified; The provision of written school policy; health promotion through walking to school: gender issues; psychosocial environment; inclusion of parents: enjoyment of physical activity: the provision of a variety of physical activities: the relationship between staff and children: Physical environment: Equality of Opportunity: Improvement of teaching in primary schools: Teaching health benefits of physical activity.
Conclusions: It could be concluded as follows: the provision of a written school policy could be useful to remind teachers of the ways of promoting an active life among children. Friends or parents should be included to encourage school children to engage in physical activity; Efforts to improve the quality of school staff should be made. The importance of the relationship between teachers and children is to be taken accounts into; A variety of physical activities should be provided to encourage children from different social and cultural backgrounds to engage in physical activity, regardless of age, sex, ability and social background; Appropriate facilities and equipment should be provided so that all the children have access to physical activity easily, without barriers, regardless of their ability level, sex and size; Efforts should be made to improve teaching in primary schools where children develop their exercise ability. In addition, teaching health benefits of physical activity should be continued to provide an opportunity for children to think of a healthy life style.

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