Key result
Limiting school sports clubs linked to ~5 min/day less exercise and reduced shuttle run performance.
Why the study?
It was unknown whether the introduction of national guidelines limiting sports club activities at school was associated with adolescents' exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness.
Does the introduction of national guidelines limiting sports club activities at school reduce exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents?
Observational
Yes
Does the introduction of national guidelines limiting sports club activities at school reduce exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents?
Mean Difference: -4.8 (95% CI -5.9–-3.8)
Implementing national guidelines that limit school sports club activities was associated with significant declines in both daily exercise duration and cardiorespiratory fitness among Japanese adolescents.
May caution against limiting school sports without alternatives; leaves open causal effects and needs prospective confirmation.
PURPOSE: We examined whether introduction of national guidelines limiting sports club activities at school was associated with adolescents' exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness. METHODS: We conducted interrupted time-series analysis to quantify the changes in prefecture-level aggregated data on exercise or sports activities and 20-m shuttle run (indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness) among adolescents in Japan before (2013-2017) and after (2018-2022) the introduction of the guidelines using data from the National Survey of Physical Fitness, Athletic Performance and Exercise Habits. RESULTS: The introduction of the guidelines was associated with reductions in exercise and sports activities duration (boys, -4.8 [95% CI -5.9, -3.8] min/day; girls, -5.5 [95% CI -6.2, -4.8] min/day) and performance of 20-m shuttle run (boys, -1.2 [95% CI -1.4, -1.0] laps; girls, -2.3 [95% CI -2.5, -2.2] laps). DISCUSSION: After introducing guidelines limiting sports club activities at school, levels of exercise or sports and cardiorespiratory fitness declined among adolescents.
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Kuwahara et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Adolescents. National guidelines limiting sports club activities at school vs. Before introduction of guidelines (2013-2017) was evaluated on Changes in exercise or sports activities duration (MD -4.8 min/day (boys), 95% CI -5.9, -3.8). Introducing national guidelines limiting school sports clubs was associated with reduced exercise duration (boys: -4.8 min/day; girls: -5.5 min/day) and 20-m shuttle run performance.
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