Structured fitness programmes have the potential to help children become more physically active, stronger and more agile than conventional PE lessons, according to the results of a new pilot study.

Researchers from Edge Hill University looked at the impact of twice weekly Les Mills-designed Born To Move (BTM) sessions on 10 to 11-year-olds in comparison to their regular PE classes. BTM is a series of movement-based classes, with music and choreography designed to meet the unique needs of each childhood developmental stage.

The six-week study involved 139 children from four schools in the UK and found that those who took part in BTM developed greater muscular fitness, intrinsic motivation and general physical activity levels than the control group which did normal PE routines. On average, the BTM group improved push-up test performance from 5.7 to 11.7, as well as increasing standing long-jump distance from 130.2 cm to 145.0 cm, while there were also positive outcomes in terms of length of time spent active and engagement with exercise.

“The classes are designed to captivate toddlers through to teens by combining a motivating mix of age-appropriate movement and music that is jam-packed with laughter, singing and fun,” said Janine Phillips, the creative director behind BTM

Phillips said each class teaches motor skills that improve agility, balance, coordination, endurance, flexibility and speed, adding: “The classes are designed to allow children to discover the joy of movement and set them up with healthy habits for the future.”

Youth inactivity has regularly been in the spotlight in the last year, with 1 in 5 English primary school children now classed as overweight or obese. Research released from Essex University showed fitness levels among English schoolchildren are lower than ever and still getting worse, while ukactive also made major headlines recently with its Generation Inactive report, which showed only half of seven-year-olds are meeting recommended physical activity guidelines of 60 minutes per day.