title: Changes in School Health Program Improve Middle School Students' Behaviors.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental activities in a school-based health program among 6th grade students (N = 2315).
  
  
  
  Students enrolled in Project Healthy Schools, a school-based health program designed to reduce childhood obesity and improve cardiovascular health, completed a health questionnaire on recent lifestyle choices including diet, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors. Baseline and follow-up data were compared between students who received educational lessons and students who received educational lessons and additional activities in the schools' environment. We calculated descriptive and one-way ANOVA statistics.
  
  
  
  Students at schools with educational lessons and environmental activities reported more fruit intake (p = .046), fewer sugary beverages (p = .054) and servings of fatty/sugary foods (p = .002), and more moderate physical activity (p = .009) compared to students with educational lessons only. No beneficial effect was observed in decreasing TV viewing time. Mobile device time increased in both groups.
  
  
  
  The present study suggests school-based health programs combining educational lessons and additional environmental activities may improve diet and physical activity in middle school children to a greater degree than educational lessons alone.
authors: Vrije University, Amsterdam, Netherlands. rosadevisser@gmail.com.
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: de Visser
authors: University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Sylvester
authors: University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Rogers
authors: University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Kline-Rogers
authors: University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: DuRussel-Weston
authors: University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Kim A
authors: KA
authors: Eagle
authors: University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Jackson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires