Key Information

Children’s physical activity levels are associated with both physiological and psychosocial health. Current physical activity guidelines recommend children to engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day. However, despite this, it is estimated that over a third of children fail to meet these recommended guidelines. Additionally, asthma and obesity have both increased dramatically in recent years and are two of the most common long-lasting problems to affect children. It is important to target asthma and obesity by developing effective novel exercise and educational programmes tailored especially to improve asthmatic outcomes.

Recent research has provided promising evidence to support the use of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) as an alternative to continuous aerobic exercise, which is typical of children’s sporadic physical activity levels. That said, few studies have investigated the health associated benefits of a HIIT intervention in a paediatric population. Schools have been identified as a key setting for health promotion and an influential mechanism to engage children in physical activity and exercise interventions, capturing approximately 40% of a child’s waking time and reaching a large number of children from diverse health pathways and socio-economic backgrounds. As such, a school-based HIIT intervention could be conducted in a cost effective and time-efficient manner in a school environment.

Commando Joe's is a military-style school-based intervention delivered in both primary and secondary schools. Recent evaluation suggests that despite positively influencing behaviour, attendance and attainment, the intervention is not intense enough to confer health associated benefits. As such, funding has been sought from Commando Joe's and Asthma UK in order to develop and implement a HIITintervention in schools. This MSc will run alongside two fully-funded PhD students.

We aim to deliver an intervention that: 
1.Enhances children’s overall physical activity and fitness levels and consequently reduces obesity rates
2.Allows asthmatic children to take control of their asthma and increase confidence in taking part in physical exercise
3.Shows that our targeted exercise programme leads to better asthma control, fitness and fewer asthma attacks

The study offers a real chance to improve outcomes for children with asthma in a relatively short time-frame. The work should also frame professional practice and guide school policy relating to asthma, physical activity and exercise.

Supervisor: Dr Kelly Mackintosh

Collaborating staff: Dr Gwyneth Davies, Dr Melitta McNarry

Eligibility

Applicants should have at least an upper second class honours degree in a relevant subject (sports science, human sciences, engineering, physics, mathematics).

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate that they are self-motivated, autonomous and have excellent problem solving abilities.

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to UK/EU students only.

Funding

The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees (currently £3996) for the duration of the course (1 year)….