From policy to practice: Examining the role of recess in elementary school

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between school recess policies, the quality of the recess environment and body mass index (BMI) among elementary school children. STUDY DESIGN: Observational. METHODS: Data were collected at 23 schools across four geographically distinct regions of the United States. Measures included recess observations using the Great Recess Framework-Observational Tool (GRF-OT), recess policies were collected with the School Physical Activity and Policy Assessment, and BMI was obtained through height and weight measurements among 429 students in third and fifth grade. RESULTS: Results showed that school policies related to recess access significantly predicted children’s BMI, and school policies related to investment in recess significantly predicted recess quality as measured by the GRF-OT. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study can be used to help inform future research regarding how school recess policies can impact child-level outcomes and the recess environment.