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 .
Observed levels of elementary and middle school children's physical activity during physical education classes.
BACKGROUND The benefits of childhood physical activity include fitness , weight control , and exercise habits that may carry over into adulthood . School physical education is the primary program responsible for training the nation 's youth to be physically active and national objectives call for students to be engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at least 50 % of class time . The purpose of this study was to determine through systematic observation in a regional sample of elementary and middle schools the amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity students obtain during physical education classes . METHODS Twenty elementary schools and 7 middle schools were r and omly sample d from the 355 elementary schools and 117 middle schools in the 20 school districts in Harris County , Texas . In addition , 9 elementary and 6 middle schools that were identified as having excellent physical education programs were sample d purposively to provide a comparison . Seven systematic observations of student 's physical activity were conducted during physical education in each school . RESULTS The average moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the r and omly selected elementary schools was 8.6 % , significantly less ( P < 0.05 ) than for the r and omly selected middle schools ( 16.1 % ) or for the comparison elementary schools ( 20.6 % ) and middle schools ( 24.0 % ) . CONCLUSIONS The average amount of  physical activity  observed in this regional sample of schools was less than the estimated national average of 27 % and far less than the national recommendation calling for a minimum of 50 %
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 .