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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07826624

Brain Breaks Exercise Videos for Overweight and Obese Children

This randomized controlled study evaluated the effects of a 4-week Brain Breaks® exercise video intervention on physical activity and Transtheoretical Model-related psychosocial factors among overweight and obese children and adolescents in China. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group participated in short, video-based physical activity sessions during school breaks, while the control group did not receive the Brain Breaks intervention. Outcomes included physical activity participation, stage of exercise behavior change, exercise self-efficacy, perceived benefits of exercise, and perceived barriers to exercise.

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Key information

Conditions

Overweight Behavior Body Weight Motor Activity Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Obesity Overnutrition Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

9 year–15 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Guangxin District No. 7 Primary School

Shangrao, Jiangxi, 334100, China

About this study

This study was conducted to examine whether a school-based Brain Breaks® exercise video intervention could improve physical activity and psychosocial determinants of exercise behavior among overweight and obese children and adolescents in China. The intervention was informed by the Transtheoretical Model, which conceptualizes exercise behavior as progressing through different stages of behavioral change.

Eligible participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group received a 4-week Brain Breaks® exercise video program during school breaks. The program consisted of approximately 10 minutes of moderate-to-high-intensity video-guided physical activity per day. Participants followed short exercise video segments designed to encourage movement and participation in physical activity. Participants in the control group did not receive the Brain Breaks intervention during the study period.

Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention. The study evaluated physical activity participation and several Transtheoretical Model-related psychosocial constructs, including stage of exercise behavior change, exercise self-efficacy, perceived benefits of exercise, and perceived barriers to exercise. The study was designed to determine whether changes in these outcomes differed between the intervention and control groups following the 4-week intervention.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Chinese children and adolescents aged 9 to 15 years.
  • Body mass index (BMI) meeting the Chinese criteria for overweight or obesity.
  • Able to complete the study questionnaires.
  • Voluntary participation with informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Unable to participate in physical activity according to the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q).
  • Physical injury or medical condition preventing participation in physical activity.
  • Unwilling to participate in the study.

Treatment and study plan

Video-Guided Physical Activity Program

Behavioral

Participants assigned to the intervention group received a 4-week video-guided physical activity program using Brain Breaks exercise videos. The intervention consisted of approximately 10 minutes of moderate-to-high-intensity physical activity during school breaks each day. Participants followed short exercise video segments designed to increase physical activity participation and support exercise behavior change. The intervention was delivered in the school setting during the study period.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Total Physical Activity Measured by the Chinese Version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

    Physical activity was assessed using the 7-item Chinese version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-C), which assesses physical activity intensity and sitting time during the previous 7 days. Total physical activity was expressed as metabolic equivalent task minutes per week (MET-min/week). Higher values indicate a greater amount of physical activity. Change from baseline to Week 4 was evaluated between the intervention and control groups.

  2. Change in Stage of Exercise Behavior Change

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

    Stage of exercise behavior change was assessed according to the Transtheoretical Model. Participants were classified into one of five stages: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, or maintenance. Changes in stage of exercise behavior from baseline to the end of the 4-week intervention were evaluated between groups.

  3. Change in Exercise Self-Efficacy Measured by the Chinese Version of the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

    xercise self-efficacy was assessed using the 18-item Chinese version of the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (not at all confident) to 5 (completely confident). The mean score ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater exercise self-efficacy. Change from baseline to Week 4 was evaluated between the intervention and control groups.

  4. Change in Perceived Benefits of Exercise Measured by the Chinese Version of the Decisional Balance Scale

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

    Perceived benefits of exercise were assessed using the Benefits subscale of the 10-item Chinese version of the Decisional Balance Scale. The Benefits subscale consists of 5 items rated on a 5-point scale. The mean subscale score ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater perceived benefits of exercise. Change from baseline to Week 4 was evaluated between the intervention and control groups.

  5. Change in Perceived Barriers to Exercise Measured by the Chinese Version of the Decisional Balance Scale

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

    Perceived barriers to exercise were assessed using the Barriers subscale of the 10-item Chinese version of the Decisional Balance Scale. The Barriers subscale consists of 5 items rated on a 5-point scale. The mean subscale score ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater perceived barriers to exercise and therefore a less favorable outcome. Change from baseline to Week 4 was evaluated between the intervention and control groups.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Guangzhou University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Investigation on the Effects of Brain-Breaks Exercise Videos on Socio- Ecological Risks Using Transtheorethical Model Among Overweight and Obese Children in Shangrao, China

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Sep 17, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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