title: Impact of a South African School-based Intervention, HealthKick, on Fitness Correlates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of a whole-of-school health promotion program targeting healthy eating and physical activity on physical fitness levels, and physical activity-related knowledge, attitudes and behavior of primary school children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen primary schools were randomly assigned as intervention (N = 8) and control (N = 8) schools. A selection of tests from the Eurofit testing battery was used to assess changes in fitness levels over the 3 years of the intervention. Anthropometric measurements included height and weight. A physical activity knowledge, attitude and behavior (KAB) questionnaire was administered to participants. Multi-level mixed effect linear models were used to assess differences between intervention and control schools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No overall improvement in physical fitness was found. The sit-ups score improved significantly in the intervention group (p < .05). No overall intervention effects were found on the determinants of physical activity behavior. Knowledge improved in both the intervention (p = .005) and control (p < .001) groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of a specific intervention effect on fitness levels and physical activity-related KAB indicates that a "low intensity" intervention is not effective in South African primary school settings.
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa. monika.uys@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uys
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Draper
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sharief
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hendricks
authors.affiliation: Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit (NCDRU), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), South Africa.
authors.forename: Anniza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Villiers
authors.affiliation: Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit (NCDRU), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), South Africa.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fourie
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, University of Cape Town Medical Campus, South Africa.
authors.forename: Nelia P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Steyn
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Estelle V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D013019:South Africa; D013334:Students