The effectiveness of exercise intervention for academic achievement, cognitive function, and physical health among children in Mongolia: a cluster RCT study protocol.

Kenji Takehara, Togoobaatar Ganchimeg, Akihito Kikuchi, Lkagvasuren Gundegmaa, Lkagvasuren Altantsetseg, Ai Aoki, Takemune Fukuie, Kazuya Suwabe, Shagdar Bat-Erdene, Masashi Mikami, Rintaro Mori, Hideaki Soya

Journal: BMC public health 2019;19(1):697

PMID: 31170967

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Many studies have demonstrated positive effects of physical activity on children's health such as improved cardiorespiratory function and decreased obesity. Physical activity has also been found to have positive effects on academic achievement and cognitive function. However, there are few high quality RCT studies on this topic at present and the findings remain controversial.

METHODS

This protocol describes cluster randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of school-based exercise intervention among children in Mongolia. The intervention consists of 3-min sessions of high intensity interval training combined with music implemented two times a week at school during study periods. The participants are children in the fourth grade in public elementary schools in the Sukhbaatar district in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The participants are cluster randomized by school and allocated either to the intervention or control group. The primary outcome is academic achievement. Secondary outcomes are obesity/overweight, physical fitness function, lifestyle, mental health, and cognitive function.

DISCUSSION

This cluster-RCT is designed and implemented to assess the effectiveness of exercise intervention on academic achievement, cognitive function, and physical and mental health among school-age children in Mongolia. This study will provide evidence to promote physical activities among children in low- and middle- income countries.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN: UMIN000031062 . Registered on 1st February 2018.

Address: Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1, Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan.; Global Health Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.; Division of Sport Neuroscience, Advanced Research Initiative for Human High Performacnce (ARIHHP), Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8574, Ibaraki, Japan.; Mongolian National Institute of Physical Education, P.O.Box-224, Ikh Toiruu-49, Sukhbaatar district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.; Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8574, Ibaraki, Japan.; Division of Biostatistics, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1, Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan.; Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1, Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6986-8

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MeSH Terms: Academic Success, Child, Cluster Analysis, Cognition, Exercise, Exercise Therapy, Female, Humans, Life Style, Male, Mental Health, Mongolia, Obesity, Overweight, Physical Fitness, Program Evaluation, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, School Health Services, Schools