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 .
An after-school obesity prevention program for African-American girls: the Minnesota GEMS pilot study.
OBJECTIVE This paper describes the development of an after-school obesity-prevention program for African-American girls , and presents findings from a 12-week pilot trial conducted by the University of Minnesota . This study was part of the GEMS project , created to test interventions design ed to reduce excess weight gain in African-American girls . DESIGN Two-arm parallel group , r and omized controlled trial . Measures were taken at baseline and at 12 weeks follow up . SETTING An after-school community program . PARTICIPANTS Fifty-four African-American girls , 8- to 10-years of age , and their parents/caregivers . INTERVENTION The after-school intervention was conducted twice a week for 12 weeks , and focused on increasing physical activity and healthy eating .  A family component was also included . Girls in the control group received a program over 12 weeks unrelated to nutrition and physical activity . OUTCOMES Measures included height and weight ( body mass index ) , percent body fat ( DEXA ) , physical activity , assessed using a CSA accelerometer and self-report , two 24-hour dietary recalls , and psycho-social and demographic variables . Parental data included demographic and psycho-social characteristics , and dietary measures . Additionally , process evaluation data on the intervention were collected . RESULTS Recruitment goals were met . After adjustment for baseline level , follow-up BMI did not differ between the treatment groups , an expected finding , given that this was a pilot study . At 12 weeks follow up , differences between the intervention and control groups were in the hypothesized direction of change for most variables , among both the girls and their parents . Process evaluation results demonstrated that the program was well attended , and well received , by girls and parents . CONCLUSIONS An after-school obesity prevention program for low-income African-American girls is a promising model for future efforts
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 .