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Increasing children's physical activity: a peer modelling, rewards and pedometer-based intervention

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 191–198 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

To evaluate a peer modelling, rewards and pedometer-feedback intervention designed to increase children's physical activity and which uses the same behaviour-change principles underlying the Food Dude Healthy Eating Programme.

Subjects/Methods:

The study was conducted in two primary schools in Wales. Participants were 47 children (21 boys, 26 girls) from the experimental school and 53 children (29 boys, 24 girls) from a matched control school, aged 9–11 years. Children in the experimental school took part in the intervention; over 8 days they were introduced to fictional role models (the Fit n' Fun Dudes) via visual and audio intervention materials and received small rewards when their daily pedometer step counts increased by 1500 steps per day relative to their baselines. Pedometer measures were taken from children in both schools at baseline, intervention (baseline 2 for the control school) and 12-week follow-up.

Results:

Among experimental girls, steps per day were significantly higher during the intervention (14 686±2540) and at follow-up (13 737±3288) compared to baseline (10 864±2481, P<0.001) and control girls (P<0.005). Experimental boys showed significantly higher daily steps during the intervention compared to baseline (16 237±4204 cf. 13 452±3258, P<0.001) and control boys (P<0.005). There were no significant differences between activity levels of experimental and control boys at follow-up.

Conclusions:

The intervention resulted in substantial increases in children's physical activity, which was well maintained over a 12-week period in girls.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the schools for their participation and Victoria Lovett, Susie Bamford, Lianne Allsup, Beatriz Roca Biosca, Nicola Morgan, Cara Rogowski and Markku Wood, for their assistance with data collection. The study was funded by an Economic and Social Research Council postgraduate studentship awarded to CA Hardman.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Wales Bangor, Gwynedd, UK

    P J Horne, C A Hardman & C F Lowe

  2. School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    A V Rowlands

Authors
  1. P J Horne
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  2. C A Hardman
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  3. C F Lowe
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  4. A V Rowlands
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C A Hardman.

Additional information

Contributors: PJH and CFL supervised the research, provided the theoretical underpinning, and contributed to data analysis and interpretation, and to the writing of the paper. CAH carried out data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and drafted the paper. The intervention was devised by PJH, CAH and CFL. AVR contributed to intervention development, data analysis and interpretation, and to the writing of the paper. Chris Whitaker advised on statistical analyses.

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Horne, P., Hardman, C., Lowe, C. et al. Increasing children's physical activity: a peer modelling, rewards and pedometer-based intervention. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 191–198 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602915

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