Examining the impact of 45 minutes of daily physical education on cognitive ability, fitness performance, and body composition of African American youth.

OBJECT: Increased importance on academic achievement has resulted in many school districts focusing on improved academic performance leading to reductions in physical education time. The purpose was to examine the effects of 45 minutes of daily physical education on the cognitive ability, fitness performance and body composition of African American elementary and middle school youth. METHODS: Participants completing the informed consent in grades 2nd to 8th were included in the study. A pre/posttest design was used with repeated measures analysis of variance. Experimental and control school participants were pretested on the cognitive measures (ie, Fluid Intelligence and Perceptual Speed) and Fitnessgram® physical fitness test items (eg, aerobic capacity, muscular strength and muscular endurance, body composition) in September 2009 and posttested in May 2010. RESULTS: Experimental elementary and middle school participants observed significantly greater improvements compared with control elementary and middle school participants on 7 of 16 fitness and body composition measures and on 8 of 26 cognitive measures. These fitness, body composition, and cognitive improvement differences were more noticeable among elementary and middle school females. CONCLUSIONS: Providing 45 minutes of daily physical education can perhaps increase cognitive ability while increasing fitness and decreasing the prevalence of overweight and obese youth.

The association of natural elements with physical activity intensity during trail use by older adults.

BACKGROUND: Public health efforts to promote trail use among older adults could be an effective strategy for increasing physical activity among older adults. However, research is needed to better understand factors that influence older adults' use of trails. PURPOSE: To examine the association between variations in natural elements (ie, season, weather, temperature) and older adults' overall trail use and physical activity intensity during trail use. METHODS: A rail-trail in South Carolina was systematically evaluated (2006-2009) using The System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities. RESULTS: The majority (74.2%) of the 1053 older trail users observed were walking; 25.9% were observed in vigorous activity. Older adults were most often observed using the trail in the spring (40.1%), sunny weather (76.8%), and moderate temperatures (56.2%). Significant differences in activity type by natural element variables were identified. CONCLUSIONS: When promoting trail use among older adults, natural elements should be considered.