title: School physical education: effect of the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: San Diego State University, San Diego, California, 92120, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Nader
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Strikmiller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Epping
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Luepker
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kelder
mesh_terms: 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