OBJECTIVE: To conduct a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials aimed at testing whether school-based physical activity programmes improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in children. DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Using keywords, we performed a computerised search in five databases: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science and SPORTDiscus. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Studies that assessed the effectiveness of school-based physical activity programmes on improving CRF in children (3 to 12 years old). We selected interventions that included an additional physical activity programme and not only a physical activity educational component. The reference lists of selected full-text articles and systematic reviews were also searched for relevant studies. Pooled effect size (Hedges' g) was calculated assuming a random-effects model. RESULTS: Twenty trials with 7287 healthy children aged 3 to 12 years were included in the meta-analysis. School-based physical activity interventions with aerobic games and activities were associated with a significant small increase in CRF (Hedges' g 0.22; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.30; p < 0.001). Based on subgroup analysis, the increase in CRF was significant in girls (Hedges' g 0.25; 95% CI 0.13 to 0.37; p < 0.001), but not in boys (Hedges' g 0.02; 95% CI -0.10 to 0.14; p = 0.731). SUMMARY: Moderate quality evidence supports the effectiveness of school-based physical activity interventions on improving CRF in children. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Protocol PROSPERO registration number CRD42016050173.
Reproduced with permission from the BMJ Publishing Group.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher