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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Jan 11;18(1):126.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-5019-8.

A cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the daily mile on childhood obesity and wellbeing; the Birmingham daily mile protocol

Katie Breheny  1 , Peymane Adab  2 , Sandra Passmore  3 , James Martin  4 , Emma Lancashire  4 , Karla Hemming  4 , Emma Frew  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the daily mile on childhood obesity and wellbeing; the Birmingham daily mile protocol

Katie Breheny et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity prevention is a public health priority. Children spend a large proportion of their waking time in school; therefore this is an appropriate setting to implement obesity prevention initiatives. Anecdotal reports suggest that implementing The Daily Mile in schools has had positive effects on childhood obesity, academic attainment and wellbeing. This trial aims to measure the effectiveness of The Daily Mile for improving health and wellbeing.

Methods: This protocol describes a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) in 40 primary schools located in Birmingham, UK. Eligible participants are children in years 3 (aged 7-8) and 5 (aged 9-10). The study compares The Daily Mile (intervention) to usual practice (control) in relation to health and wellbeing. The Daily Mile intervention involves an additional 15 min of running or walking integrated into the school day, throughout a 12 month study period. The primary clinical outcome is body mass index (BMI) z-scores at 12 months following introduction of the intervention. The cost per Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) is the primary outcome of the economic evaluation. Secondary outcomes include wellbeing, physical fitness and teacher reported academic attainment.

Discussion: This study is the first RCT investigating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of The Daily Mile. A range of outcomes will be measured to evaluate the broader wellbeing and academic benefits in addition to clinical outcomes typically measured in childhood obesity prevention trials. The intervention is simple and low-cost, therefore if the benefits are demonstrated it has enormous potential to influence future policy.

Trial registration: ISRCTN: 12698269 . Date protocol registered 27th October 2016.

Keywords: Childhood obesity prevention; Cluster randomised controlled trial; Cost-effectiveness; Physical activity; School-based intervention; Wellbeing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethics approval was obtained from the University of Birmingham Research Ethics Committee (reference number 16–0064). Consent was obtained from participants’ parents and verbally from participants before measures were taken.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study design of The Birmingham Daily Mile trial
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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