Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33789683›Full record

Trial reportThe international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity2021

The effect of a one-year vigorous physical activity intervention on fitness, cognitive performance and mental health in young adolescents: the Fit to Study cluster randomised controlled trial.

T M Wassenaar, C M Wheatley, N Beale, T Nichols, P Salvan, A Meaney, K Atherton, K Diaz-Ordaz, H Dawes, H Johansen-Berg

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 52 papers, 11 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
52citing papers in PubMed, 11 pooled it
10.0field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT03286725 nacompletednot on this map

Physical Exercise for Education ('Fit to Study')

TypeinterventionalSponsorOxford Brookes UniversityRan2017 to 2020Enrolled20,000ConditionsPhysical Activity, Mental Health Wellness 1, Cognitive Function 1, Social, Academic AttainmentArmsPhysical Education (PE) Programme
NCT05561192 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Insertion of Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises, Cardiorespiratory and Strength Exercises, and Cooperative Sports Activities During Physical Education Classes on Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Adolescents

TypeinterventionalSponsorFederal University of PelotasRan2023 to 2023Enrolled320ConditionsDepressive Symptoms, Anxiety SymptomsArmsDiaphragmatic breathing exercises, Cardiorespiratory and strength exercise, Cooperative sports activities group, Traditional physical education class
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

52 citing papers in PubMed, 11 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 87 citations in OpenAlex.

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  12. Effects of a 12-Week Physical Activity Intervention on Psychological Symptoms in Adolescents.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024
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  20. Outline: The Long-Term Impact of Exercise on Adolescent Growth and Development.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

T M WassenaarWellcome Centre For Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
C M WheatleyWellcome Centre For Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
N BealeDepartment of Sport Health Sciences and Social Work, Centre for Movement Occupational and Rehabilitation Sciences, Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
T NicholsWellcome Centre For Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
P SalvanWellcome Centre For Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
A MeaneyDepartment of Sport Health Sciences and Social Work, Centre for Movement Occupational and Rehabilitation Sciences, Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
K AthertonWellcome Centre For Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
K Diaz-OrdazDepartment of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
H DawesDepartment of Sport Health Sciences and Social Work, Centre for Movement Occupational and Rehabilitation Sciences, Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
H Johansen-BergWellcome Centre For Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK. Heidi.johansen-berg@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-4134-9730
John Radcliffe Hospital · GBOxford Brookes University · GBUniversity of London · GB

Funding

Department of HealthMedical Research Council MR/L011964/1Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust 100309/Z/12/ZWellcome Trust 110027/Z/15/ZWellcome Trust 203139/Z/16/ZWellcome Trust 204928/Z/16/ZWellcome Trust 218554/Z/19/ZWellcome Trust 2681
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPhysical activity (PA) may positively stimulate the brain, cognition and mental health during adolescence, a period of dynamic neurobiological development. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) or vigorous PA interventions are time-efficient, scalable and can be easily implemented in existing school curricula, yet their effects on cognitive, academic and mental health outcomes are unclear. The primary aim of the Fit to Study trial was to investigate whether a pragmatic and scalable HIIT-style VPA intervention delivered during school physical education (PE) could improve attainment in maths. The primary outcome has previously been reported and was null. Here, we report the effect of the intervention on prespecified secondary outcomes, including cardiorespiratory fitness, cognitive performance, and mental health in young adolescents.

methodsThe Fit to Study cluster randomised controlled trial included Year 8 pupils (n = 18,261, aged 12-13) from 104 secondary state schools in South/Mid-England. Schools were randomised into an intervention condition (n = 52), in which PE teachers delivered an additional 10 min of VPA per PE lesson for one academic year (2017-2018), or into a "PE as usual" control condition. Secondary outcomes included assessments of cardiorespiratory fitness (20-m shuttle run), cognitive performance (executive functions, relational memory and processing speed) and mental health (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and self-esteem measures). The primary intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis used linear models and structural equation models with cluster-robust standard errors to test for intervention effects. A complier-average causal effect (CACE) was estimated using a two-stage least squares procedure.

resultsThe HIIT-style VPA intervention did not significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness, cognitive performance (executive functions, relational memory or processed speed), or mental health (all p > 0.05). Subgroup analyses showed no significant moderation of intervention effects by sex, socioeconomic status or baseline fitness levels. Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness were not significantly related to changes in cognitive or mental health outcomes. The trial was marked by high drop-out and low intervention compliance. Findings from the CACE analysis were in line with those from the ITT analysis.

conclusionThe one-academic year HIIT-style VPA intervention delivered during regular school PE did not significantly improve fitness, cognitive performance or mental health, but these findings should be interpreted with caution given low implementation fidelity and high drop-out. Well-controlled, large-scale, school-based trials that examine the effectiveness of HIIT-style interventions to enhance cognitive and mental health outcomes are warranted.

trial registrationISRCTN registry, 15,730,512 . Trial protocol and analysis plan for primary outcome prospectively registered on 30th March 2017. ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03286725 . Secondary measures (focus of current manuscript) retrospectively registered on 18 September 2017.

Indexed as

Academic PerformanceCardiorespiratory FitnessExerciseMathematicsMental HealthMental ProcessesAdolescentBrainCognitionEnglandExecutive FunctionHigh-Intensity Interval TrainingHumansMalePhysical Education and TrainingAdolescenceCardiorespiratory fitnessCluster randomised controlled trialCognitionInterventionMental healthPhysical activity

Identifiers

PMID33789683
PMCPMC8011147
OpenAlexW3145643471

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.