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 .
San Diego family health project: reaching families through the schools.
This project tests the effectiveness of a family-based health behavior change intervention in two ethnic groups . The aim is to help family members initiate and maintain dietary and physical activity behaviors believed to be linked to risk factors for cardiovascular disease . This paper describes the project and the baseline results . Twelve San Diego elementary schools were r and omly assigned to intervention or control conditions .  Hispanic and Anglo families with a fifth or sixth grade child were recruited to participate in a two-year study . The intervention emphasizes enjoyable experiences design ed to transmit knowledge and skills required for long-term changes in diet and physical activity habits . Groups of families met at schools for 12 weekly sessions and six maintenance sessions distributed throughout the following nine months . Outcome behavioral and physiologic measures will be collected at baseline , three months , 12 months , and 24 months . Differences between Anglo and Mexican-American subjects justify targeted activities specific to these groups
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 .