The Odds of Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines in Children Receiving School-Based Fitness Testing Awards: NHANES 2013–2016

Abstract

Fitness testing and awards have been used in physical education classrooms for over 50 years. While their initial intention was to promote physical activity engagement, analyses show they are not achieving their goal. This article highlights fitness testing awards and the need to re-evaluate how they can help meet the physical activity guidelines for children ages 5 to 15 years. A cross-sectional secondary data analysis was employed using data from the 2013-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 3973). Analysis results showed that receiving fitness awards is not associated with children meeting physical activity guidelines. It is thus important for physical education teachers and school administrators to adopt and implement process-based fitness testing awards (e.g., giving awards for an individual's fitness-behavior goal achievement or improvement) along with performance-based fitness awards to enhance children's physical activity levels.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nicole Fiscella

Nicole Fiscella currently an assistant professor in the Department of Exercise Science at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA. At the time of the authorship of this article she was an instructor in the Department of Exercise Science & Athletic Training in the College of Health Professions at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, PA.

Jaehun Jung

Jaehun Jung is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, College of Education and Professional Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in Whitewater, WI.

MooSong Kim

MooSong Kim is an associate professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, College of Education at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK.

Willie Leung

Willie Leung ([email protected]) is an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Health Science and Human Performance, College of Natural and Health Sciences at the University of Tampa in Tampa, FL.