title: Effects of a 2-year school-based intervention of enhanced physical education in the primary school.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to assess whether a school-based physical education intervention was effective in improving physical abilities and influencing daily physical activity habits in primary school children. The possible effect on body mass index (BMI) was also considered.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six 3rd-grade classes were randomly selected stratifying by geographic location (city, plain, hills) and were assigned either to an intervention (127 boys; 120 girls) or to a traditional (129 boys; 121 girls) physical education program. At baseline (age: 8-9 years) and after a 2-year follow-up (age: 10-11 years), information was collected about sport participation and daily activity habits using a self-administered questionnaire. Height, weight, and BMI were measured and physical performance was assessed by means of standardized tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The enhanced program of physical education was effective in improving physical abilities of children and determining a decrease (boys: 10%; girls: 12%) in daily sedentary activities (preintervention versus postintervention, p < .05; intervention versus control group, p < .01). The percentages of overweight and obese children did not vary significantly, but the experimental group showed a significantly lower rise in BMI compared to the control group (p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The school proved to be an ideal setting for promoting physical activity and achieving the required daily activity levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Public Health, University of Bologna, S. Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy. rossella.sacchetti@unibo.it
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacchetti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ceciliani
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garulli
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dallolio
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beltrami
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leoni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: BMI; children; physical education; school-based intervention; sedentary behavior