title: Effects of a physical education program on physical activity, fitness, and health in children: the JuvenTUM project.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of a school-based prevention program on physical activity, fitness, and obesity. We performed a prospective study in eight Bavarian primary schools (n = 724 children, 8.4 ± 0.7 years) randomized one to one to either an intervention school (IS, n = 427) or a control school (CS, n = 297). Children in IS attended 10 health-related lessons at school over a period of 1 year. Parents and teachers attended two and three educational health-related lessons, respectively, and also received 10 newsletters on health issues. Daily physical activity (≥ 60 min/day), physical fitness (six-item test battery), and anthropometric data were obtained at baseline and after 1 year. Physical activity and physical fitness increased in IS, but it failed to reach significant intervention effects. Nevertheless, a reduction in waist circumference was observed for all children [mean change 1.7 cm; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-2.3; P < 0.001). This effect was more pronounced in overweight children (> 90th percentile, n = 99, mean change 3.2 cm; 95% CI 1.5-4.8; P < 0.001). This easily administered preventative program involving children, parents, and teachers revealed that a generalized approach increasing physical activity will even be favorable in a subgroup of obese children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prevention, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Technische Universität München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany. siegrist@sport.med.tum.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siegrist
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lammel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Christle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halle
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference