An in-classroom physical activity breaks program to improve academic achievement, movement behaviors and health outcomes in grade five students in Sri Lanka

INTERVENTION: This is a two‐group parallel randomized controlled trial. Control schools will not receive any treatments. Intervention schools will receive five‐minute physical activity breaks at least three times per day by the classroom teachers for 12 weeks. This is a pre‐post‐test intervention only. There will be no treatment during the follow‐up period. The schools that consent to participate in the study will be randomized by shuffling sealed envelopes with the treatment allocation inside. Shuffling will be done by a resource person from a randomly selected school who will not be involved in the participant recruitment, intervention implementation, and outcome evaluation. Classroom teachers, children, and parents will sign the written informed consent form before the study commencement. CONDITION: A classroom‐based physical activity breaks program ; Not Applicable PRIMARY OUTCOME: Academic achievement (mathematics and reading) measured using curriculum‐related tests designed and approved by teachers at baseline and post‐intervention at week 12 SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Movement behaviors (LPA, MPA, MVPA, SED) measured using accelerometers at baseline and post‐intervention at week 12; 2. Health outcomes (BMI, Aerobic fitness, Perceived stress) measured using height in cm, weight in kg, beep test and a validated perceived stress evaluation questionnaire at baseline and post‐intervention at week 12 INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Grade 5 students (aged 9 to 10 years old regardless of gender) from the Badulla district 2. Informed consent and confirmed ascent 3. Healthy condition 4. No special education needs