A Study of the Effects of Physical Activity on Asthmatic Symptoms and Obesity Risk in Elementary School-Aged Children

Background: Children with moderate persistent asthma are often reluctant to engage in physical activity and as a result are more prone to obesity and increased incidence of asthma attacks. Purpose: This study developed an asthma program that included physical activity and asthma management education for elementary schoolchildren with moderate persistent asthma to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in reducing asthma symptoms while increasing lung functions. Methods: This study utilized a quantitative, nonexperimental, nonrandomized longitudinal design that collected participants' asthma and physical exercise histories and forced vital capacity (FVC) volumes before and after the asthma program (n = 10). Results: This asthma program significantly improved asthma control among participants by reducing the number of weekly and monthly emergency visits (P < .01), increasing participation in physical activities (P <.01), and increasing the average FVC volume from 1.93 +/- 0.30 L to 2.74 +/- 0.37 L (P <.01), indicating improved lung conditions. Discussion: This study shows that enhanced physical activity and asthma management education for children with moderate persistent asthma can reduce asthmatic symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, while potentially decreasing the risk of obesity later in life. Translation to Health Education Practice: Educators and parents should consider taking more active roles in encouraging children with moderate persistent asthma to participate in more supervised physical activities in order to control asthma symptoms and to reduce risk for obesity.