No significant changes in physical activity patterns were observed in 6-12-year-old children with obesity after a 4-month individualized physical activity on prescription intervention, though overall satisfaction with the treatment was high among both children and parents.
No significant changes in physical activity patterns were observed in the overall group following the 4-month PAP intervention.
No significant changes in physical activity patterns were found in subgroup analyses by sex or age.
The intervention had a dropout rate of 16.7%, with 35 of 42 enrolled children completing the 4-month PAP program.
Overall satisfaction with the PAP treatment was high among both children and parents.
The main activities performed by the children during the PAP intervention were ball sports, swimming, and walking, including daily walks to and from school.
The authors identified small sample size, limited statistical power, intervention extent and duration, and accelerometer limitations as potential explanations for the lack of significant findings.
This research studied whether a structured 'physical activity on prescription' (PAP) program could increase physical activity levels in children aged 6-12 who were living with obesity. Over four months, 42 children in Sweden received individualized counseling, a written physical activity prescription tailored to their needs, and regular follow-up appointments. Their physical activity was measured using accelerometers worn on the hip for a week before and after the program. Common activities included ball sports, swimming, and walking to and from school. The study found no statistically significant changes in physical activity patterns after the intervention, either in the group as a whole or when looking separately at boys versus girls or younger versus older children. However, both children and their parents reported high satisfaction with the program. The dropout rate was relatively low at about 17%, with 35 of the original 42 children completing the program. This research suggests that while PAP is an established method for increasing physical activity in adults, its effectiveness in children with obesity remains unclear and warrants further investigation. The authors noted that the results may have been limited by the small number of participants, the relatively short duration of the program, and the fact that hip-worn accelerometers cannot accurately capture activities like swimming. Larger and longer studies are needed to determine whether PAP can meaningfully improve physical activity levels in children with obesity, which has implications for how health services design and deliver obesity treatment for young people.
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Upload Your LabsTörnqvist J, Lauruschkus K, Bernhardsson S, Melin K, Karlsson L, Arvidsson D, et al.. (2026). Addressing insufficient physical activity in children with obesity in a 4-month physical activity on prescription intervention: a single-group pre-post study.. BMC public health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-29071-9