The school environment and adolescent physical activity and sedentary behaviour : A mixed-studies systematic review

There is increasing academic and policy interest in interventions aiming to promote young people's health by ensuring that the school environment supports healthy behaviours. The purpose of this review was to summarize the current evidence on school-based policy, physical and social-environmental influences on adolescent physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Electronic databases were searched to identify studies that (1) involved healthy adolescents (11-18years old), (2) investigated school-environmental influences and (3) reported a physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour outcome or theme. Findings were synthesized using a non-quantitative synthesis and thematic analysis. Ninety-three papers of mixed methodological quality were included. A range of school-based policy (e.g. break time length), physical (e.g. facilities) and social-environmental (e.g. teacher behaviours) factors were associated with adolescent physical activity, with limited research on sedentary behaviour. The mixed-studies synthesis revealed the importance of specific activity settings (type and location) and intramural sport opportunities for all students. Important physical education-related factors were a mastery-oriented motivational climate and autonomy supportive teaching behaviours. Qualitative evidence highlighted the influence of the wider school climate and shed light on complexities of the associations observed in the quantitative literature. This review identifies future research needs and discusses potential intervention approaches to be considered

Educação física no ensino médio: desenvolvimento de conceitos e da aptidão física relacionados à saúde

O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar o desenvolvimento de conceitos, níveis de aptidão física relacionados à saúde, e padrão de atividade física proporcionado pelas aulas de Educação Física (EF). Compuseram a amostra 40 alunos (24 meninos, 16 meninas) do ensino médio. A aptidão física (APF) foi avaliada mediante os testes sentar e alcançar, corrida de nove minutos e resistência abdominal em um minuto, pertencentes à bateria de testes da PROESP. Os conceitos foram analisados por prova teórica com questões objetivas. O escore de atividade física (ATF) foi estimado pela versão longa do International Physical Activity Questionaire (IPAQ). Em 30 aulas de EF os conteúdos de ensino se relacionaram aos conceitos sobre alongamento e exercícios gímnicos: ginástica intervalada e corridas. Encontraram-se mudanças significativas na resistência abdominal, flexibilidade e conhecimento para ambos os sexos e na resistência aeróbia para meninas, indicando que as aulas, trabalhadas mediante procedimentos de ensino visando à promoção da saúde podem modificar os conceitos e a aptidão física relacionados à saúde de alunos do Ensino Médio

Rationale, design and methods of the HEALTHY study physical education intervention component

The HEALTHY primary prevention trial was designed to reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes in middle school students. Middle schools at seven centers across the United States participated in the 3-year study. Half of them were randomized to receive a multi-component intervention. The intervention integrated nutrition, physical education (PE) and behavior changes with a communications strategy of promotional and educational materials and activities. The PE intervention component was developed over a series of pilot studies to maximize student participation and the time (in minutes) spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), while meeting state-mandated PE guidelines. The goal of the PE intervention component was to achieve ≥150 min of MVPA in PE classes every 10 school days with the expectation that it would provide a direct effect on adiposity and insulin resistance, subsequently reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes in youth. The PE intervention component curriculum used standard lesson plans to provide a comprehensive approach to middle school PE. Equipment and PE teacher assistants were provided for each school. An expert in PE at each center trained the PE teachers and assistants, monitored delivery of the intervention and provided ongoing feedback and guidance

Rationale, design and methods of the HEALTHY study physical education intervention component

The HEALTHY primary prevention trial was designed to reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes in middle school students. Middle schools at seven centers across the United States participated in the 3-year study. Half of them were randomized to receive a multi-component intervention. The intervention integrated nutrition, physical education (PE) and behavior changes with a communications strategy of promotional and educational materials and activities. The PE intervention component was developed over a series of pilot studies to maximize student participation and the time (in minutes) spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), while meeting state-mandated PE guidelines. The goal of the PE intervention component was to achieve ≥150 min of MVPA in PE classes every 10 school days with the expectation that it would provide a direct effect on adiposity and insulin resistance, subsequently reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes in youth. The PE intervention component curriculum used standard lesson plans to provide a comprehensive approach to middle school PE. Equipment and PE teacher assistants were provided for each school. An expert in PE at each center trained the PE teachers and assistants, monitored delivery of the intervention and provided ongoing feedback and guidance