Use of SPARK to promote after-school physical activity.

Increasing physical activity is one of the cornerstones for combating obesity and reducing the risk of weight-related morbidity among America’s youth.1, 2 Despite the known importance of physical activity, only 18% of adolescents report achieving the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.3 This is particularly concerning as disparities in physical activity3 parallel increasing disparities in pediatric obesity.4 Schools are a natural venue in which to increase physical activity among diverse youth and the after-school period poses fewer time constraints than the school day.5 Results of intervention studies to increase after-school physical activity have been mixed,6 making it difficult to identify best practices for promoting physical activity after school. Strategies that have been proven effective during the school day may be equally effective after school. Sports Play and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) is one program that was demonstrated to increase students’ moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during the school day.7 The SPARK program consists of 3 primary features: an active curriculum, staff-development, and follow-up support.7 However, no studies to date have examined the use of SPARK after school as a tool to help staff increase children’s physical activity. During the 2008–2009 school year, a large urban school district set a new policy of achieving 30 minutes of MVPA in the after-school setting per day. To assist schools in reaching this goal, the district purchased the SPARK program. The school district planned to introduce SPARK to 13 schools over a one-year period, and was willing to stagger implementation in order to evaluate SPARK’s impact on physical activity. We took advantage of this opportunity to examine the potential of SPARK to increase MVPA in the after-school setting and improve cardiorespiratory fitness and weight status.