WHO INFORMATION SERIES ON SCHOOL HEALTH ... - PAHO/WHO

Promoting Physical Activity in Schools
5. INTEGRATING EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTO
VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF A HEALTH-PROMOTING SCHOOL
Health related habits such as physical activity, healthy nutrition and refraining from tobacco could be influenced
through inter-related components of a Health-Promoting School. A framework of these components is
illustrated in Figure 1:
Healthy school policies
Training for school personnel
School /community and school/
family interaction and outreach
The successful promotion of physical activity in school largely depends on how effectively the above components
are mobilised to support the adoption and maintenance of physical activity. This multi-component
approach is widely recommended (47) and has proven most effective in practice (46). The following sections
take a closer look how each component can be used to promote physical activity.
Summary: How to promote physical activity in schools:
Supportive school policy:
Raise the quantity and quality of physical education at schools.
Integrate the benefits of physical activity in school curricula.
Support teachers, parents and students who plan, develop and review physical activity
programmes
Physical education:
Skills-based health education
SCHOOL
A health supportive school
environment
Figure 1. Various Components of a Health-Promoting School
Develop and practise physical fitness such as endurance, flexibility, strength and coordination,
including basic motor skills.
Provide physical activity to specific needs and to all children (recognizing age, disability and
gender).
Provide recreation and relaxation. Make physical activity fun.
Health services
Physical education & recreation
programmes
Diet and Nutrition
Provide an increased variety of physical activity such as sports, non-competitive recreation facilities
and active play through extra-curricular activities.
WHO Information Series on School Health 14