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 .
Changes in BMI and blood pressure after a school based intervention: the CHILDREN study.
BACKGROUND Identification of the behavioural , normative and control beliefs influencing children 's behaviour is an important prerequisite in design ing effective interventions . The current study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention program , based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour ( TPB ) , on  obesity indices and blood pressure ( BP ) in Ioannina , Greece . METHODS Participants were 646 fifth grade pupils ( 360 girls and 286 boys ) . The intervention group ( IG ) consisted of 321 children in 13 r and omly selected schools while the rest ( n = 325 children ) served as the  control group ( CG ) . Based on the outcome of the TPB question naire , the intervention focused on overcoming the barriers in accessing physical activity areas , increasing the availability of fruits and vegetables and increasing parental support . General linear mixed model and mediating variable analysis were used to evaluate the differences between the two groups and to test whether changes in certain dietary , physical activity and anthropometrical indices mediated the effect of the intervention on BP . RESULTS IG had higher consumption of fruits and lower consumption of fats/oils and sweets/beverages compared with the CG . Intervention 's effect on BMI could be explained by the changes in fruit and fats/oils intake whereas the reduction of systolic and diastolic BP could be explained by the reduction of BMI . CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate favourable changes in BP and obesity indices after the implementation of a 1-year school-based intervention program based on the TPB . These results highlight the importance of developing a social and physical environment that promotes balanced eating behaviours and extra-curricular access to physical activity venues
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 .