School physical education: effect of the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health.
BACKGROUND
Physical inactivity is a risk behavior for cardiovascular and other diseases. Schools can promote public health objectives by increasing physical activity among youth.


METHODS
The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) was a multicenter, randomized trial to test the effectiveness of a cardiovascular health promotion program in 96 public schools in four states. A major component of CATCH was an innovative, health-related physical education (P+) program. For 2.5 years, randomly assigned schools received a standardized PE intervention, including curriculum, staff development, and follow-up.


RESULTS
Systematic analysis of 2,096 PE lessons indicated students engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in intervention than in control schools (P = 0.002). MVPA during lessons in intervention schools increased from 37.4% at baseline to 51.9%, thereby meeting the established Year 2000 objective of 50%. Intervention children reported 12 more min of daily vigorous physical activity (P = 0.003) and ran 18.6 yards more than control children on a 9-min run test of fitness (P = 0.21).


CONCLUSIONS
The implementation of a standardized curriculum and staff development program increased children's MVPA in existing school PE classes in four geographic and ethnically diverse communities. CATCH PE provides a tested model for improving physical education in American schools.
McKenzie
T L
TL
San Diego State University, San Diego, California, 92120, USA.
Nader
P R
PR
Strikmiller
P K
PK
Yang
M
M
Stone
E J
EJ
Perry
C L
CL
Taylor
W C
WC
Epping
J N
JN
Feldman
H A
HA
Luepker
R V
RV
Kelder
S H
SH
D000293:Adolescent; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States