Increasing physical activity in sedentary adolescents through school-based interventions: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Physical inactivity is a growing concern among children and adolescents, particularly in disadvantaged populations.
• Schools are critical settings for implementing interventions to combat sedentary behavior and promote physical activity (PA).

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of school-based interventions targeting sedentary adolescents.
• To identify intervention components associated with increased PA in this population, including leisure-time activity.

Main Methods:

• Searched PubMed, PsycInfo, and Scopus for school-based interventions aimed at increasing PA in sedentary adolescents.
• Included studies reporting on leisure-time PA; excluded studies focusing solely on general populations or non-PA outcomes.
• Analyzed findings from ten eligible studies using descriptive/narrative synthesis.

Main Results:

• Interventions often utilized physical education (PE) teachers and incorporated moderate activities like walking and weight training.
• Theory-based motivational strategies and self-regulation components (e.g., intentions, sense of coherence) were vital.
• Effective programs promoted PA beyond school hours and emphasized individualized support and tailored goal setting.

Conclusions:

• Future research needs a consistent definition of "sedentary" for better study comparison.
• Sedentary adolescents require targeted interventions with engaged leaders, individualized support, and progress tracking.
• A combination of self-report and objective measures is recommended for assessing fitness and PA levels.