[School sports--early prevention of coronary heart disease?]

In its usual form, school sports is neither calculated to motivate a lifelong pursuance of sports, nor is it particularly suitable for primary prevention of coronary heart disease. In view of the multifactorial pathogenetic nature of this disease, school sports can be nothing more than an adjunctive prophylactic measure. Epidemiological studies have shown a high level of probability for the usefulness of physical exercise as a preventive measure in childhood and adolescence. However, the findings of sports-medical research on endurance sports must be taken into account. In a controlled study of Hamburg children covering a period of 3 years, it was shown that pupils with high self-esteem, which was particularly encouraged, have better pre-conditions for a lifelong interest in active sports.