How healthy is school PE? A review of the effectiveness of health-related physical education programmes in schools

Abstract

The role of the school in health promotion has become more prominent and there has been an increase in health-related physical education programmes in schools. This paper presents a comprehensive review of such programmes and considers whether and to what extent school physical education contributes to young people's health. The review suggests that health-related physical education programmes can achieve positive outcomes in physiological, clinical, behavioural, cognitive and affective measures. However, firm conclusions cannot yet be drawn about the effects of health-related physical education programmes on children's long-term health. The review is encouraging in terms of assimilating health objectives within the primary and secondary school Physical Education curricula.