Switch-Play

The Switch Play program had two main elements: Behavioral Modification and Fundamental Motor Skills. This school-based intervention was designed for 10 year olds. Both the Fundamental Motor Skills and Behavioral Modification elements were comprised of 19 40-50 minute sessions. The aim of the Behavioral Modification Sessions sessions was to reduce the amount of time spent on television viewing by 20%. Sessions covered a variety of topics including decision making skills, physical activity, and decreasing sedentary behavior.

The Fundamental Motor Skills element focused on six skills, including three object control skills (overhand throw, kick and strike) and three locomotive skills (run, dodge and vertical jump). The skills were taught with an emphasis on fun through games and maximum involvement for all the children. Most lessons focused on at least two skills, and each skill was a focus lesson in at least six or more sessions. Students were divided into four group: (1) behavioral modification intervention; (2) fundamental motor skills intervention; (3) behavioral modification intervention and fundamental motor skills intervention; (4) no intervention.

The primary goal of the ‘Switch-Play’ promising practice was to develop and test three approaches towards the achievement of healthy weight maintenance among 10-year-old children: (1) through reducing the time spent in sedentary behaviors (e.g. TV viewing, playing electronic games and recreational computer use); (2) through increasing skills and enjoyment of physical activity; or (3) through a combination of these two strategies.

Children participating in the behavioral modification and motor skills development components of Switch-Play had improved BMI.

After adjusting for food intake and physical activity, there was a significant intervention effect from baseline to post intervention on age- and sex-adjusted BMI in the group receiving both the behavioral modification and fundamental motor skills interventions (p<.01), which was maintained at 6- and 12-month follow-up periods (p<.05). Children receiving both the behavioral modification and fundamental motor skills interventions were less likely than controls to be overweight/obese between baseline and post intervention (p<.05),which was also maintained at 12-month follow-up (p<.05). The intervention did not have an effect on screen time among participating children.