Funded Projects

Supporting Physical Activity with Realistic Knowledge

Project Year

2025

City & State

New Haven , Connecticut

Program Name

CATCH Resident

Topic

School Health

Program Description

Problem: The current Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans published in 2018, suggest that adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of activity daily and engage in muscle and bone strengthening exercises three days per week. Many parents and adolescents are unfamiliar with these recommendations. Youth often find it difficult to find motivation to be physically active, as many health benefits such as preventing diabetes and heart disease feel abstract to them. Poverty, unsafe outdoor spaces, and underlying health problems also pose challenges to consistent physical activity. There are significant racial and ethnic disparities found in rates of youth participation in exercise, with black females having the lowest and white males having the highest rates. Adolescents are in a unique developmental stage as they are exploring their identity, which can be at odds with parental and societal expectations. Physical exercise is often recommended as a brief discussion during a yearly physical as pediatricians balance all healthcare needs of a patient. In Connecticut (CT), there is no minimum weekly physical activity requirement at the public high school level. There are state-level standards in that were last updated in 2021, however schools are not enforced to comply. Much of the impetus for physical activity promotion falls on parents and guardians. In New Haven, CT this can be particularly challenging due to high rates of poverty and limited access to safe outdoor spaces.   Primary Setting: Wilbur Cross (WC) High School in New Haven, CT.     Number of children affected: There are roughly 1700 students enrolled at WC, with just over 400 students per grade. Programming will be offered to all students. We anticipate between 10-20 students will participate in each session (four sessions total), reaching 40-80 students throughout the project timeline.   Project Goal: We aim to encourage adolescents to form a healthy relationship with exercise leading to both short and long-term health benefits. The goal of this grant is to address disparities in physical activity participation and encourage students to find a form of exercise that they will enjoy and continue beyond a school-associated session. We also hope to provide students with reliable resources that they can reference on topics of physical activity, nutrition, and injury prevention.   Proposed Intervention: Four educational sessions throughout the school year led by Yale pediatric residents in partnership with WC staff and the school-based health center on topics relevant to physical activity, nutrition, and injury prevention. We will offer our sessions during the designated Wellness Wednesdays that are already run by the high school. We will utilize the Exercise is Medicine framework to create concrete and individualized physical activity goals for students. Each session will begin with a short informational portion to discuss students’ goals. We will then transition to an accessible activity for students of all abilities. In discussions with school staff, we have discussed including a walk in an adjacent local park or school track, as well as indoor sessions including yoga or other stretching activities. This will provide an opportunity for students to explore movement and a chance to ask individual questions in a low stress environment.  Anticipated Outcomes: This program will introduce students to different forms of exercise that they can incorporate into their daily life as they are transitioning into young adulthood. Students will become familiar with evidence-based resources on physical activity and nutrition. They will also be more comfortable exploring new ways to move their bodies - whether it is in their own home, in a public park, or in a traditional gym setting. We anticipate students will then be able to have meaningful discussions about these topics with friends and family.

Project Goal

Improve high school students’ knowledge of physical activity recommendations, address personal barriers to participation in physical activity, and increase daily movement.

Project Objective 1

By June 2026, at least 50 students will have participated at least one educational session regarding physical activity located in Wilbur Cross High School. 

Project Objective 2

By August 2025, I will have modified the general exercise prescription, five specific medical condition forms (asthma, obesity, anxiety/depression, low back pain, limited mobility), and created the educational framework for each of the four educational sessions.  

Project Objective 3

After completion of each of the four sessions, 50% of students will select either agree or strongly agree on all four survey questions regarding their comfort and motivation to be physically active.  

AAP District

District I

Institutional Name

Wilbur Cross High School

Contact 1

Saparja Nag, MD