There is good evidence that school-based physical activity interventions have a positive impact on four of the nine outcome measures .
Specifically positive effects were observed for duration of physical activity , television viewing , VO2 max , and blood cholesterol .
Generally school-based interventions had no effect on leisure time physical activity rates , systolic and diastolic blood pressure , body mass index , and pulse rate .
At a minimum , a combination of printed educational material s and changes to the school curriculum that promote physical activity result in positive effects .
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization estimates that 1.9 million deaths worldwide are attributable to physical inactivity .
Chronic diseases associated with physical inactivity include cancer , diabetes and coronary heart disease .
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence of the effectiveness of school-based interventions in promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents .
Direct observation of physical activity and dietary behaviors in a structured environment: Effects of a family-based health promotion program
The effects of cardiovascular risk reduction are typically assessed by self-reported behavior change and physiological outcomes . There is a need to enhance evaluation protocol s by including direct observation measures of targeted health behaviors . To improve the evaluation of a family-based diet and physical activity change program , families were observed during a planned visit to the San Diego Zoo . This st and ardized environment afforded many options for dietary intake and physical activity . Thirty families who had participated in a 1-year intervention program and 30 control families were observed . Caucasian and Mexican-American families were equally represented . Observations in this st and ard environment discriminated between intervention and control families , and the findings indicated that intervention effects generalized to this novel setting . Intervention families consumed fewer calories , ate less sodium , and walked further than did control families . Ethnic differences were noted
There is good evidence that school-based physical activity interventions have a positive impact on four of the nine outcome measures .
Specifically positive effects were observed for duration of physical activity , television viewing , VO2 max , and blood cholesterol .
Generally school-based interventions had no effect on leisure time physical activity rates , systolic and diastolic blood pressure , body mass index , and pulse rate .
At a minimum , a combination of printed educational material s and changes to the school curriculum that promote physical activity result in positive effects .
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization estimates that 1.9 million deaths worldwide are attributable to physical inactivity .
Chronic diseases associated with physical inactivity include cancer , diabetes and coronary heart disease .
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence of the effectiveness of school-based interventions in promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents .