Research Impact: The evidence suggests that minor modifications to typical school provision of physical education, physical activity and sports may be required to have a desired effect on indicators of health in adolescents with results from the meta-analysis illuminating a significant impact on body fat percentage in both boys and girls concerning experimental groups with minor modifications to typical school provision. Similar to previous reviews in this research area (Rocliffe et al., 2023a; Rocliffe et al., 2023b), a high proportion of the evidence pertained to typical school physical education, with a paucity of evidence concerning the additive impact of typical school physical activity and sports. Robust examples of best practice gleaned from the current body of evidence illuminated the integration of swimming classes, supplementary heart rate monitoring, health and diet related theoretical classes, extended days dedicated to physical education weekly (≥ 4 days), active transport, sports field/gymnasium availability, cardiorespiratory, resistance, strength, calisthenic or jumping exercises and/or circuit training into the school day, as viable strategies to impact adolescent health.
Rocliffe, P., Tapia-Serrano, M.A., Garcia-Gonzalez, L., Adamakis, M., Walsh, L., Bannon, A., Mulhall, E., Sherwin, I., O’Keeffe, B.T., Mannix-McNamara, P., & MacDonncha, C. (2024) The Impact of Typical School Provision of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sports on Adolescent Health: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. Adolescent Research Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-023-00231-x
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