OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a 2-year recreational physical activity program in 1044 fourth- and fifth-grade primary schoolchildren from the Province of Cuenca, Spain. STUDY DESIGN: Cluster-randomized controlled trial with 10 intervention and 10 control schools. The program consisted of 3 90-minute sessions of physical activity per week, during 28 weeks every year. Changes in endpoints between baseline (September 2004) and the end of follow-up (June 2006) were compared between the control and intervention group by using mixed regression models, with adjustment for the baseline endpoint value, age, and the school. RESULTS: Compared with control subjects, intervention girls reduced the frequency of overweight (odds ratio 0.55; 95% CI 0.39 to 0.78; p < 0.001). However, intervention was associated with an increase in the percentage of body fat in boys (0.97%; 95% CI 0.14 to 1.81; p = 0.02). Girls in the intervention group had lower total cholesterol level (-6.86 mg/dL; 95% CI -9.70 to -4.01; p < 0.001) and apolipoprotein B level (-3.61 mg/dL; 95% CI -6.27 to -0.95; p = 0.008) than control subjects. Results were similar in boys. CONCLUSION: In 2 years, the physical activity program lowered the frequency of overweight in girls and reduced total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B in both girls and boys.

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