Skip to main content
. 2020 Jan 3;17(1):347. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17010347

Table 2.

Summary of school-based intervention studies.

Study Design Setting and Participants Aim Intervention Duration Quality
Almas et al. [40] Parallel cluster intervention trial

  • 4 public schools in Karachi, Pakistan.

  • 277 girls (IG: 131, CG: 146).

 To examine the feasibility of the school-based program and its effect on blood pressure and body mass index among pre-adolescent girls. Over 20 months Strong
Aperman-Itzhak et al. [41] A non-randomized controlled trial

  • 2 religious and 2 secular schools in Israel.

  • 396 fifth- and sixth-grade students (IG: 200, CG: 196).

 To evaluate the effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle intervention on health knowledge, behavior, and anthropometric measurements. 2011–2012 school year Moderate
Bhave et al. [42] A non-randomized controlled trial

  • Two schools in the cities of Pune and Nasik, India.

  • 491 children (IG: 304, CG: 187).

 To examine the 5-year impact of the program on preventing fat and improving PF and lifestyle. 5 years Moderate
Brown et al. [43] A one-group, repeated measures design

  • 3290 children aged 4–12 years from southwest Scotland.

 To examine body mass index standard deviation score changes following a Child Healthy Weight pilot intervention. 10 weeks Moderate
Carlson et al. [44] Mixed-effects model

  • Six elementary-school districts in California (n = 1322).

 To examine the relationship between PA breaks and PA and class behaviors. 2013–2014 school year Moderate
Eather et al. [45] Randomized controlled trial

  • Four primary schools in the Hunter Region, NSW, Australia.

  • 213 children (mean age = 10.72 ± 0.6; %52 female) (IG: 118, CG: 95).

 To evaluate the impact of a school-based PA intervention (Fit-4-Fun) on health-related fitness. 8 weeks Moderate
Grydeland et al. [46] Cluster randomized, controlled study

  • 12 schools in Norway.

  • 1324 students (11-year-old) (IG: 465, CG: 859).

 To examine the effects of a multicomponent school-based intervention on anthropometric outcomes. 20 months Moderate
Hollis et al. [47] Cluster randomized controlled trial

  • 10 secondary schools in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Baseline- IG: 645, CG: 505.

  • Mid-point (12 months)- IG: 592, CG: 459.

  • Follow-up (24 months)- IG: 560, CG: 425.

 To report the secondary outcomes of the study; to determine whether the intervention impacted on adiposity outcomes (weight, body mass index (BMI), BMI z-score. 12 months Strong
Kipping et al. [48] Cluster randomized controlled trial

  • 60 primary schools in the southwest of England.

  • 2221 Primary school children (IG: 1064, CG: 1157).

 To investigate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention to increase PA, reduce sedentary behaviour, and increase fruit and vegetable consumption in children. 5 years Moderate
Kriemler et al. [49] A cluster randomized controlled trial.

  • 28 classes from 15 elementary schools in Switzerland.

  • 502 children (IG: 297, CG: 205).

 To assess the effectiveness of a school-based PA program during one school year on physical and psychological health in children. 9 months Strong
Li et al. [50] Non-randomized controlled trial

  • Four public schools in Changping District, Beijing of China.

  • 921 children aged 7 to 15 years (IG: 388, CG: 533).

 To assess the effectiveness of a school-based PA intervention during 12 weeks on obesity and related health outcomes in school children. 12 weeks Strong
Lynch et al. [51] A cluster randomized controlled trial

  • 8 classrooms of second- and third-grade children in Rochester, Minnesota.

  • 51 children (IG: 29, CG: 22).

 To evaluate the impact of the Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 program in an elementary school. 8 weeks Moderate
Madsen et al. [52] A cluster randomized controlled study

  • Six schools (IG: 4 schools, CG: 2 schools) in northern California.

  • 879 students (IG: 583, CG: 296).

 To examine the impact of Energy Balance for Kids with Play (EB4K with Play), on students’ PA, dietary habits and knowledge, and weight status over 2 years. Over 2 years Strong
Magnusson et al. [53] A cluster randomized controlled trial.

  • Three schools in the city of Reykjavik, Iceland.

  • 321 students (IG: 151, CG: 170).

 To assess the effects of a 2-year intervention program on body composition and objectively measured cardiorespiratory fitness. 2 years Moderate
Shore et al. [54] A quasi-experimental design

  • One public middle school in a suburb near Philadelphia

  • 92 students (IG: 46, CG: 46).

 To determine the effects of a school-based pedometer intervention (SBPI) on daily accrued steps, academic performance, attendance, tardiness, and fitness performance in middle school students. 6 weeks Strong
Sigmund et al. [55] Non-randomized controlled trial

  • Four schools (2 control, 2 intervention) in the Czech Republic.

  • 175 students (IG: 88, CG: 87).

 To investigate the effect of increased PA on increasing daily PA and decreasing obesity in 6–9-year children. 2006–2008 Strong
Thivel et al. [56] Randomized intervention study

  • 19 primary schools in France.

  • 457 children aged 6 to 10 years (IG: 229, CG: 228).

 To assess the effect of a PA program on body composition and PF. 6 months Strong
Tian et al. [57] A pre-test and post-test control-group design

  • Two primary schools in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

  • 110 Grade 7 learners aged 12–13 years (IG: 40, CG: 70).

 To evaluate the effects of a once-a-week enhanced quality PE program on the PA levels. Over 12 weeks Strong
Vander Ploeg et al. [58] Quasi-experimental, pre-post-trial with a parallel, non-equivalent control group

  • 20 schools in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

  • 1157 students in the year 2009 (IG: 198, CG:454), the year 2011 (IG: 196, CG: 309).

 To examine the 2-year change in PA during and after school among students participating in a comprehensive school health (CSH) intervention. 2008–2011 Strong

IG: Intervention group; CG: Control group; PF: Physical fitness.