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 .
School-based Interventions Improve Heart Health in Children With Multiple Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
Objective . To determine the immediate effects of two types of elementary school-based interventions on children with multiple cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk factors . Design . R and omized , controlled field trial . Setting . Conducted in 18 r and omly selected elementary schools across North Carolina . Study Participants . Four hundred twenty-two children age 9 ± 0.8 years with at least two risk factors at baseline : low aerobic power and either high serum cholesterol or obesity . Intervention . Both 8-week interventions consisted of a knowledge and attitude program and an adaptation of physical education . The classroom-based intervention was given by regular teachers to all children in the 3rd and 4th grade s. The risk-based intervention was given in small groups only to children with identified risk factors . Children in the control group received usual teaching and physical education . Outcome Measures . The primary outcome measure was cholesterol ; additional measures were blood pressure , body mass index , body fat , eating and activity habits , and health knowledge . Results . Both interventions produced large reductions in cholesterol ( −10.1 mg/dL and −11.7 mg/dL ) compared with a small drop ( −2.3 mg/dL ) in the controls . There was a trend for systolic blood pressure to increase less in both intervention groups than in the controls . Both intervention groups had a small reduction in body fat and higher health knowledge than the control group . Conclusions . Both brief interventions can improve the CVD risk profile of children with multiple risk factors . The classroom-based approach was easier to implement and used fewer re sources . This population approach should be considered as one means of early primary prevention of CVD
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 .