Promotion of Physical Activity and Health in the School Setting

This book is the first-known contributed volume focused exclusively on physical activity in the school setting. It describes the importance of regular physical activity for all preschoolers, children and adolescents, which contributes to preventing concerning public health problems such as childhood obesity and physical inactivity. Children and adolescents spend more time in school than anywhere else other than the home, making schools an excellent setting in which to offer quality physical activity education and possibilities for an active school day. Physical activity is associated with physiological, physical, and mental health benefits. School-based physical activity initiatives can also positively impact learning and classroom behavior. This book comprehensively reviews the latest research on physical activity and health in the school setting, presenting different perspectives from prestigious international authors representing 12 countries and involving 40 different researchers. It provides an in-depth description on how the school environment can be used to develop, implement, and evaluate strategies that promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior among these populations according to the educational stage (i.e., pre-primary, primary and secondary school). It also details how to implement each individual initiative based on successful investigations and how to plan, implement and evaluate a school policy. By implementing these strategies, schools can help create a culture of physical activity that promotes healthy habits and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. The volume's 16 chapters are organized in three parts, providing an overview of current knowledge. The authors discuss advances in theory and research and demonstrate how they are using that evidence to improve professional practice and collaborate with families. Part I: Movement Guidelines and Recommendations Part II: Monitoring and Evaluation in School Settings Part III: Physical Activity During School Hours Promotion of Physical Activity and Health in the School Setting makes an important contribution to the youth physical activity field for scholars and practitioners. The book is essential reading for advanced students, researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers with an interest in physical activity, youth sport, public health, physical education, or child and adolescent development and education.