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 .
Increasing children's physical activity levels during recess periods in elementary schools: the effects of providing game equipment.
BACKGROUND During recess , children can be active on a daily basis , making it an important school environmental factor for the promotion of health-related physical activity . The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of providing game equipment on children 's physical activity levels  during morning recess and lunch break in elementary schools . METHODS Seven elementary schools were r and omly assigned to the  intervention group ( four schools ) , including 122 children ( 75 boys , 47 girls , mean age : 10.8 + /- 0.6 years ) , and to the control group ( three schools ) , including 113 children ( 46 boys , 67 girls , mean age : 10.9 + /- 0.7 years ) .  Children 's activity levels were measured before and three months after providing game equipment , using MTI accelerometers . RESULTS During lunch break , children 's moderate and vigorous physical activity significantly increased in the intervention group ( moderate : from 38 to 50 % , vigorous : from 10 to 11 % ) , while it decreased in the control group ( moderate : from 44 to 39 % , vigorous : from 11 to 5 % ) . At morning recess , providing game equipment was effective in increasing children 's moderate physical activity ( from 41 to 45 % ) , while it decreased in the control group ( from 41 to 34 % ) . CONCLUSION Providing game equipment during recess periods was found to be effective in increasing  children 's physical activity levels . This finding suggests that promoting physical activity through game equipment provision during recess periods can contribute to reach the daily activity levels recommended for good health
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 .