The Effect of Feedback on Children's Physical Activity: A Randomized Control Trial in Alaska

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity has significantly increased over the last few decades. It was once a condition exclusive to mature adults, but has now become commonplace among children. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared childhood obesity to be one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. According to the Centers for Disease Control 17% of children and adolescents between the age of 2 and 19 are obese in the U.S. Additionally, obesity status can cause children serious psychological harm as a result of social stigmatization, depression, and poor body image. In this paper, I investigate how technology coupled with the social experience affects children's behavior and whether it can facilitate the adoption of more active lifestyles. Using a fitbit like device - named SQORD - and designed specifically for children, I conduct a clustered randomized control trial in the Anchorage School District where we assign schools to either full device access or restricted access. I evaluate the effect of feedback type on the physical activity of elementary school children. One type of feedback allowed students access to a website to check their points and compare their activity levels to that of friends while the other type limited the information to leader-board print outs that they received once every two weeks. I provide evidence that the type of feedback affects physical activity in elementary school children in Alaska.