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 .
Obesity in preschool and school-age children. Treatment early and often may be best.
OBJECTIVE To determine if timing and frequency of interventions affect the outcome of treatment of  obesity in pediatric patients . DESIGN Retrospective chart review ; comparison of subgroups defined by age and frequency of visits . SETTING A nutrition evaluation clinic , an outpatient referred care clinic at a metropolitan hospital . PARTICIPANTS All 93 obese children , aged 1 to 10 years , seen within 1 year and with one or more subsequent visits in the next year . Obesity was defined as greater than 120 % ideal body weight for height age ( IBWH ) . Mean percent IBWH was 171 % ( median , 199 % ; range , 127 % to 251 % ) . INTERVENTIONS ( 1 ) Initial visit . Comprehensive history and physical examination , by physician , registered dietician , and licensed clinical social worker ; design of individualized care plan , including prescribed frequency and size of meals and snacks ; and type , frequency , and duration of exercise . ( 2 ) Subsequent visits ( after 1 month , then with frequency tailored to need ) . Review of progress , adjustment of energy intake and expenditure ; management of biopsychosocial obstacles to needed changes . MEASUREMENTS /MAIN RESULTS Four patient groups were defined by two variables : age ( preschool vs school-age children ) and frequency of visits in 1 year ( two to three vs four or more ) . Groups were compared on change in mean percent IBWH and on mean change in percent IBWH . All groups showed significant change in percent IBWH ( P < or = .040 for school-age children , P < or = .012 for preschool children ) . For all visits , the mean change was more than twice as great for preschool as for school-age children ( 4.7 + /- 5.4 vs 1.9 + /- 4.8 , P = .027 ) . CONCLUSIONS ( 1 ) The most successful treatment of pre-adolescent obesity may be in preschool children with frequent visits . ( 2 ) A r and omized trial is warranted to test this possibility . ( 3 ) Many of the techniques used to treat early obesity can be adapted for prevention and intervention in early obesity during the preschool years , and this is the preferred approach
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 .