Alalawi, A. orcid.org/0000-0001-6525-3437, Blank, L. and Goyder, E. orcid.org/0000-0003-3691-1888 (2024) Umbrella review of international evidence for the effectiveness of school-based physical activity interventions. PLoS ONE, 19 (6). e0304513. -3. ISSN 1932-6203
Abstract
Background
Obesity and physical inactivity among children and young people are public health concerns. Despite the wide variety of interventions available to promote physical activity, little is known about which interventions are most effective. This review aimed to evaluate the existing literature on school-based interventions that aim to increase physical activity among children and young people aged 6 to 18 years.
Methods
A systematic review of reviews was undertaken. We searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between December 2017 and January 2024 using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL. Titles and abstracts were independently screened by two reviewers, who also conducted data extraction and quality assessments. We focused on outcomes like changes in physical activity levels and body mass index to assess the effectiveness of the interventions.
Results
A total of 23 reviews examining school-based physical activity interventions met the inclusion criteria, comprising 15 systematic reviews and 8 meta-analyses. All reviews (N = 23) were implemented in the school setting: three in primary schools, seven in secondary schools, and thirteen targeted both primary and secondary schools. The findings demonstrated that six reviews reported a statistical increase in physical activity levels among the target population, and one review found a decrease in body mass index. The most promising interventions focused on physical activity included within the school curriculum and were characterised as long-term interventions. 20 out of 23 reviews assessed the quality of primary studies.
Conclusion
Some interventions were promising in promoting physical activity among school-aged children and young people such as Daily Mile, Active Break, and Active transport while multi-component interventions seem to be positively effective in reducing BMI. Future efforts should focus on long-term, theory-driven programmes to ensure sustainable increases in physical activity.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Editors: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 Alalawi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. |
Keywords: | Humans; Exercise; Child; Adolescent; Schools; Health Promotion; Body Mass Index; School Health Services |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Medicine and Population Health |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 04 Jul 2024 10:45 |
Last Modified: | 04 Jul 2024 10:45 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0304513 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:214217 |