How California’s 30-minute daily recess could boost kids’ heart health
Official title: Examining the impact of state recess legislation on recess provision in California to inform improved student cardiometabolic fitness
Funded at Univ of Calif/div/agriculture/nat/resour · NIH-11352025 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will look at whether new state recess rules lead to more daily recess time for students and better heart-healthy outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Calif/div/agriculture/nat/resour NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $189,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HL185215-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11352025 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are children aged 5–11 in California public schools affected by that state recess policy.
✕Less likely to help
Children in schools where recess policy changes do not alter daily schedules may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project asks how California’s 2024 recess mandate affects actual recess provision in kindergarten through 6th grade and what that means for kids’ cardiometabolic health. Researchers will analyze school policies, schedules, and available resources, then link those findings to measures like activity levels and blood pressure in children. The work uses existing school data and may include collecting information from schools to understand how unfunded mandates influence implementation. If the policy improves recess access, it could inform future steps to support healthier daily routines for students.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could show that simple policy changes increase recess time and improve kids’ heart health.
How similar studies have gone: Past studies suggest policy changes can influence school health practices, but direct links to cardiometabolic outcomes are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Calif/div/agriculture/nat/resour
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thompson, Hannah R — Univ of Calif/div/agriculture/nat/resour
- Study coordinator: Thompson, Hannah R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.