title: A school-based intervention improves physical fitness in Ecuadorian adolescents: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effective lifestyle interventions are needed to prevent noncommunicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries. We analyzed the effects of a school-based health promotion intervention on physical fitness after 28 months and explored if the effect varied with important school characteristics. We also assessed effects on screen time, physical activity and BMI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed a cluster-randomized pair matched trial in schools in urban Ecuador. The intervention included an individual and environmental component tailored to the local context and resources. Primary outcomes were physical fitness (EUROFIT battery), screen time (questionnaires) and physical activity (accelerometers). Change in BMI was a secondary outcome. A total of 1440 grade 8 and 9 adolescents (intervention: n = 700, 48.6%) and 20 schools (intervention: n = 10, 50%) participated. Data of 1083 adolescents (intervention: n = 550, 50.8%) from 20 schools were analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A school-based intervention with an individual and environment component can improve physical fitness and can minimize the decline in physical activity levels from childhood into adolescence in urban Ecuador.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01004367.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lachat
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ochoa-Aviles
authors.forename: Roosmarijn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verstraeten
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huybregts
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberfroid
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: John Van
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Camp
authors.forename: Rosendo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donoso
authors.forename: Greet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardon
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kolsteren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D004484:Ecuador; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires