School-Based Intervention Programs for Preventing Obesity and Promoting Physical Activity and Fitness: A Systematic Review

Abstract

With the significant decrease in physical activity rates, the importance of intervention programs in the schools, where children spend a significant part of the day, has become indisputable. The purpose of this review is to systematically examine the possibility of school-based interventions on promoting physical activity and physical fitness as well as preventing obesity. A systematic approach adopting PRISMA statement was implemented in this study. Three different databases (2010–2019) were screened and primary and secondary school-based intervention programs measuring at least one variable of obesity, physical activity, or physical fitness were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the validated quality assessment tool for quantitative studies. Among 395 potentially related studies, 19 studies were found to meet the eligibility criteria. A general look at the studies examined reveals that among the outcomes, of which most (18/19) were examined, a significant improvement was provided in at least one of them. When the program details are examined, it can be said that the success rate of the physical activity-oriented programs is higher in all variables. School-based interventions can have important potential for obesity prevention and promotion of physical activity and fitness if they focus more on the content, quality, duration and priority of the physical activity.

Physical Activity and Physical Competence in Overweight and Obese Children: An Intervention Study

“…Our results, however, are consistent with those of previous uncontrolled pilot intervention studies conducted on overweight and obese children of similar age and nationality [ 5 , 36 , 52 ], which revealed significant changes in PA and health-related fitness tests. Our findings are also in line with the results of previous studies showing the effectiveness of school-based interventions in promoting PA and physical fitness among obese children (for a review, see [ 28 ]). From this standpoint, the increased PA levels in the intervention group could be linked to the improvement in actual motor competence, as found in previous studies [ 19 , 20 ].…”

“…A recent systematic review suggests that school-based interventions can greatly contribute to prevent obesity and to promote PA and fitness if the programs are multicomponent; centered on PA; and focused on the content, quality, and duration [ 28 ]. Findings of a cross-sectional study on a large sample of students aged 6–18 years showed a physical activity-friendly school environment to be associated with lower risk of obesity [ 29 ].…”

“…A meta-analysis found that PA interventions underpinned with relevant theoretical views (e.g., social cognitive theory, health promotion model, social learning theory) and that include multiple components are the most promising in the school setting [ 30 ]. These approaches should include evaluations of some additional aspects, such as motivation and physical self-competence, as intervention outcomes addressing childhood obesity [ 1 , 28 ]. Unfortunately, despite evidence of the psychological benefits of increased PA [ 31 , 32 ], few obesity interventions have taken into account psychosocial determinants of PA behavior [ 5 , 33 , 34 ].…”

Prioritizing Training Needs of School Health Staff: The Example of Vietnam

“…The WHO has further stated that children and adolescents are the most important population for fostering the adoption of healthy lifestyles in the future [28]. In addition, as school-based health promotion programs exert positive effects on children's and adolescents' health [29,30], consideration should also be given to efforts to increase awareness about these issues among SHS members in the process of developing the training program.…”

Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention on Physical Fitness of schoolchildren: The Enriched Sport Activity Program

“…Physical inactivity is widely recognized as a risk factor for illnesses in adulthood [1][2][3]. Health-promoting interventions, including enhanced physical activity and exercise programs showed promising results in different life stages [4]. An increase of physical activity is also associated to an increase in physical fitness [5], and such increased level of fitness has a positive effect on health [6].…”