A rapid systematic review of the effect of The Daily Mile ^™ on children’s physical activity, physical health, mental health, wellbeing, academic performance and cognitive function

Breslin, Gavin; Hillyard, Medbh; Brick, Noel; Shannon, Stephen; McKay-Redmond, Brenda; McConnell, Barbara · 2022 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1101/2022.11.03.22281578

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Summary

This rapid systematic review evaluates the impact of The Daily Mile™ (TDM), a school-based initiative involving 15 minutes of daily walking, running, or wheeling, on children aged 4–12. The study was motivated by the low prevalence of physical activity among UK children and the widespread adoption of TDM in schools, despite mixed and limited scientific evidence regarding its efficacy. The authors aimed to determine whether TDM improves physical activity levels, physical health, mental health, wellbeing, academic performance, and cognitive function, providing an evidence base to support or refine public health policy recommendations. The researchers conducted a systematic search of six electronic databases from TDM’s inception in 2012 through June 2022. Eligibility criteria required studies to involve school-aged children, implement TDM as the sole intervention, and measure at least one predefined outcome. After screening 123 records, 13 peer-reviewed studies were included. Methodological quality was assessed using a modified Downs and Black checklist, classifying studies as excellent, good, fair, or poor. The included studies varied in design, with durations ranging from a single session to 12 months, and sample sizes from 75 to nearly 7,000 participants. The review found that longer-term participation in TDM significantly increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and physical fitness. However, no studies reported significant changes in Body Mass Index or academic performance. Regarding cognitive function, acute bouts of TDM showed no improvement, though one high-quality study indicated that longer-term participation enhanced visual spatial working memory. Evidence for mental health benefits was limited to short-term improvements in one fair-quality study. While there were no significant overall effects on wellbeing, self-perception scores improved primarily for children with low baseline self-perceptions. The authors conclude that current evidence supports TDM as an effective strategy for increasing short-term physical activity and fitness in children. However, they caution that higher-quality research with adequate randomization and long-term follow-up is necessary to confirm sustained benefits and isolate TDM’s specific effects. The review suggests that while policy recommendations for TDM to boost activity levels are currently justified, claims regarding long-term improvements in mental health, wellbeing, and cognitive function require further robust investigation. The authors note that emerging randomized controlled trials with extended follow-up periods may provide the stronger evidence base needed for future public health guidance.

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• child pedestrian