Healthy U-phase 2

PURPOSE: To assess health behaviors and physical activity in select 4th and 5th grade students in New Jersey over a three year period. METHODS: Physical activity intervention was the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) curriculum administered by school personnel. FITNESSGRAM assessment performed in Fall 2014 consisted of PACER for aerobic capacity, Back Saver sit and reach, curl-ups and push-ups. A total of 4311 students participated in the CATCH curriculum in Year 3 and 172 students formed an intact control group. Unequal variance estimates were used to compensate for the differences in group sizes. In addition, subjects in each group were assigned haphazardly rather than through randomization because of the necessity of using intact groups within specific participating schools. FITNESSGRAM scores between intervention (I) and control (C) groups were compared using t-tests for independent samples. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between (I) and (C) groups for aerobic capacity and sit and reach while curl-ups were significantly greater for (C) as compared to (I) with push-ups significantly greater for (I) than (C) p