Using Health Education to Address Student Physical Activity and Nutrition: Evidence and Implications to Advance Practice*

Abstract

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDSchool‐based health education can provide students with learning experiences that improve knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) and behaviors regarding physical activity and nutrition.METHODSWe conducted a 2‐phase systematic review. Phase 1 was a review of reviews (ie, systematic reviews or meta‐analyses) that were published 2010‐2018. Phase 2 was a search for individual articles published 2010‐2020 addressing topics relevant to our review; we searched for articles that had not been part of a sufficiently relevant or recent review or that had been part of a review that concluded that too few articles were available to assert sufficient evidence.RESULTSForty‐three studies were assessed: 20 randomized controlled trials and 23 quasi‐experimental designs. Collectively, interventions had a favorable impact on students' PA and nutrition KAP, but behavioral and secondary outcome results (eg, body mass index) were mixed.CONCLUSIONSUsing the evidence‐based health education strategies identified in this review can help contribute to improvements in students' KAP and behaviors.