Background: Physical education (PE) classes in schools are considered relevant to implement interventions, especially focused on physical activity. However, evidence overviews on how PE classes contribute to general health (physical, social, affective, and cognitive domains) are still needed. Thus, we summarized evidence synthesis (eg, systematic reviews) that addressed the contribution of PE classes to the health of school-aged children and adolescents. Methods: We performed a scoping review with searches in 8 databases and institutional websites to find systematic reviews or meta-analyses that answered this review’s research question. Data charting form included the identification of the study, health outcomes, and PE classes’ strategies (policies and environment, curriculum, appropriate instructions, and evaluation). An interactive process was performed to build the evidence summary. Results: An initial search yielded 2264 titles, and 49 systematic reviews (including 11 with meta-analysis) were included in this review. Most documents reported the main benefits of PE classes on physical domain outcomes (eg, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index, and fundamental motor skills). However, evidence on the benefits of PE classes in affective (eg, enjoyment, motivation, and autonomy); social (eg, cooperation, problem-solving, and making friends); and cognitive (eg, memory, attention, concentration, and decision making) domains were found. Strategies on PE classes for health benefits were highlighted. Conclusions: These elements were detailed in the evidence summary, which may be considered to guide researchers, teachers, and practitioners to define research and practice priorities on PE class interventions for health in the school context.

Promoting healthy lifestyle factors (e.g., physical activity, healthy eating, less screen time) among young people is a relevant and challenging step toward reducing non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a multicomponent intervention on lifestyle factors among adolescents from schools in low Human Development Index (HDI < 0.500) areas. The Fortaleça sua Saúde program was conducted with 548 adolescents aged 11–18 years old in the intervention group and 537 in the control group. The four-month intervention included strategies focused on training teachers, new opportunities for physical activity in the school environment, and health education strategies for the school community (including parents). Moderate- to-vigorous physical activity level (≥420 min/week), TV watching and computer use/gaming (<2 h/day), daily consumption of fruit juice, fruit, vegetables, soft drinks, savory foods and sweets, and current alcohol and tobacco use were measured before and after intervention. McNemar’s test and logistic regression (odds ratio [OR] and a 95% confidence interval [95% CI]) were used, considering p < 0.05. In the intervention schools, a significant increase occurred in the number of adolescents who met physical activity guidelines (5.3%; 95% CI = 0.8; 9.8) and who reported using computer for <2 h a day (8.6%; 95% CI = 3.8; 13.4) after intervention. No changes were observed in the control schools. At the end of the intervention, adolescents from intervention schools were more likely to practice physical activity at recommended levels (OR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.00; 2.08) than adolescents from control schools. No significant change was observed for the other lifestyle factors. In conclusion, this multicomponent intervention was effective in promoting physical activity among adolescents from vulnerable areas. However, other lifestyle factors showed no significant change after intervention. This study is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02439827.

Background: Understanding which strategies have been recommended for the promotion of active and healthy lifestyles through physical education (PE) classes can guide PE policies and practice. Therefore, we summarized worldwide recommendations regarding strategies for PE classes that have aimed to promote active and healthy lifestyles among school-aged children and adolescents. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines were utilized. A literature search was carried out in June 2020 in eight peer-reviewed literature databases, in addition to searches in institutional and personal libraries. The eligibility criteria included any online document that included recommendations targeting any dimension of PE classes (e.g., policy and environment, curriculum, appropriate instruction, student assessment, and strategies that interact with PE) published since 2000. Results: In total, 2,408 potentially eligible documents were screened. Of these, 63 were included in the final analysis. The recommended strategies were as follows: six referred to policy and environment (valuing PE, higher frequency and duration of classes, inclusive PE classes, mandatory daily classes, evaluation of PE classes, and qualified teachers), five to curriculum (structure, type of content, cross-cutting themes, and components that improve PE classes), four to appropriate instruction (promotion of physical activities, inclusion of social issues, employment of the use of innovative technologies, and organization of the teaching–learning process), and three to student assessment (understanding human movement concepts, evaluation of contents, and assessment methods to develop an active and healthy lifestyle). Conclusion: Twenty-one strategies recommended for PE classes linked to five dimensions aimed at different target populations were identified. Over half were linked to the dimensions of policy and environment and appropriate instruction. PE is recommended to be mandatory and valued at all educational levels, with weekly frequency that contributes to an active and healthy lifestyle. This review shows that guaranteeing different experiences beyond sports, improving social inclusion, using innovative technologies, and providing adequate materials and spaces to be important challenges and ways to guide policies, programs, and new research in this field of knowledge. Open Science Framework Registration: https://osf.io/harwq/

As aulas de educação física (EF) escolar representam um momento propício para conhecer e vivenciar a pluralidade do movimento humano, favorecendo a promoção de uma vida ativa e saudável. A importância da EF escolar foi reconhecida pelo Guia de Atividade Física para a População Brasileira (Guia), que dedicou um capítulo para orientar a comunidade escolar sobre os benefícios à saúde e as estratégias de sucesso adotadas nas aulas de EF escolar. O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar o processo de elaboração das recomendações brasileiras de EF escolar para a população brasileira, mais especificamente os estudantes, professores, pais e responsáveis, e gestores. Esse capítulo do Guia foi desenvolvido por dez pesquisadores brasileiros, incluindo um representante do Ministério da Saúde. Três sínteses de evidências, escutas ao público-alvo e consulta pública foram realizadas para a construção das recomendações. Dados de 49 revisões sistemáticas sobre os benefícios da EF escolar à saúde e de 22 intervenções nas aulas de EF escolar com estudantes brasileiros foram sumarizados. Ainda, foram sintetizados 63 documentos nacionais e internacionais com estratégias recomendadas para a EF escolar, com foco nas dimensões: política e ambiente; currículo; instrução apropriada; avaliação; e estratégias que interagem com a EF escolar. Os grupos focais e a consulta pública fundamentaram a elaboração e o aprimoramento da versão final das recomendações. Espera-se que estas recomendações alicercem a criação de políticas públicas, melhorem a conscientização sobre a importância da prática de atividade física na EF escolar e enfatizem a necessidade de realizar estudos futuros nesta área de conhecimento.

Summary: The effectiveness of physical activity interventions can be improved through examining the aspects related to their implementation. However, little such evidence has been collected, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of a school-based physical activity intervention with qualitative and quantitative data from different actors (students, teachers and parents) involved in developing the program. The program was conducted in 2017 with three main components: (i) teacher training, (ii) environmental changes and (iii) educational actions. Mixed-method evaluation was performed by an independent evaluation team using a validated indicator matrix for the implementation process, including the self-reported information of students, teachers and parents, as well as interviews with teachers. In the 3 eligible schools, 350 adolescents (51% girls) answered the implementation questionnaire, as did 45 parents (84% mothers), and 47 teachers (70% female). In the qualitative analysis, 18 teachers participated. Categorical analysis found that the intervention was considered feasible by teachers. In general, teachers had a more positive perception of the implementation than did students. The lack of engagement from the school community and parents and the busy schedule of teachers were indicated to be the main difficulties. In conclusion, despite the teachers’ motivation, some barriers prevented the successful implementation of the program.