There was some evidence that school-based physical activity interventions had 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 little effect on physical activity rates , systolic and diastolic blood pressure , BMI , and pulse rate .
At a minimum , a combination of printed educational material s and changes to the school curriculum that promote physical activity result ed in positive effects .
Few changes in outcomes were observed in this up date with the exception of blood cholesterol and physical activity rates .
For example blood cholesterol was no longer positively impacted upon by school-based physical activity interventions .
The evidence suggests the ongoing implementation of school-based physical activity interventions at this time , given the positive effects on behavior and one physical health status measure .
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization ( WHO ) estimates that 1.9 million deaths worldwide are attributable to physical inactivity and at least 2.6 million deaths are a result of being overweight or obese .
In addition , WHO estimates that physical inactivity causes 10 % to 16 % of cases each of breast cancer , colon , and rectal cancers as well as type 2 diabetes , and 22 % of coronary heart disease and the burden of these and other chronic diseases has rapidly increased in recent decades .
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence of the effectiveness of school-based interventions in promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents .
Results of the "Active by Choice Today" (ACT) randomized trial for increasing physical activity in low-income and minority adolescents.
OBJECTIVE This study reports the results of the " Active by Choice Today " ( ACT ) trial for increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) in low-income and minority adolescents . DESIGN The ACT program was a r and omized controlled school-based trial testing the efficacy of a motivational plus behavioral skills intervention on increasing MVPA  in underserved adolescents . Twenty-four middle schools were matched on school size , percentage minorities , percentage free or reduce lunch , and urban or rural setting before r and omization . A total of 1,563 6th grade students ( mean age , 11.3 years , 73 % African American , 71 % free or reduced lunch , 55 % female ) participated in either a 17-week ( over one academic year ) intervention or comparison after-school program . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The primary outcome measure was MVPA based on 7-day accelerometry estimates at 2-weeks postintervention and an intermediate outcome was MVPA at midintervention . RESULTS At midintervention students in the intervention condition engaged in 4.87 greater minutes of MVPA per day ( 95 % CI : 1.18 to 8.57 ) than control students . Students in intervention schools engaged in 9.11 min ( 95 % CI : 5.73 to 12.48 ) more of MVPA per day than those in control schools during the program time periods ; indicating a 27 min per week increase in MVPA . No significant effect of the ACT intervention was found outside of school times or for MVPA at 2-weeks postintervention . CONCLUSIONS Motivational and behavioral skills programs are effective at increasing MVPA in low-income and minority adolescents during program hours , but further research is needed to address home barriers to youth MVPA
There was some evidence that school-based physical activity interventions had 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 little effect on physical activity rates , systolic and diastolic blood pressure , BMI , and pulse rate .
At a minimum , a combination of printed educational material s and changes to the school curriculum that promote physical activity result ed in positive effects .
Few changes in outcomes were observed in this up date with the exception of blood cholesterol and physical activity rates .
For example blood cholesterol was no longer positively impacted upon by school-based physical activity interventions .
The evidence suggests the ongoing implementation of school-based physical activity interventions at this time , given the positive effects on behavior and one physical health status measure .
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization ( WHO ) estimates that 1.9 million deaths worldwide are attributable to physical inactivity and at least 2.6 million deaths are a result of being overweight or obese .
In addition , WHO estimates that physical inactivity causes 10 % to 16 % of cases each of breast cancer , colon , and rectal cancers as well as type 2 diabetes , and 22 % of coronary heart disease and the burden of these and other chronic diseases has rapidly increased in recent decades .
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence of the effectiveness of school-based interventions in promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents .