Researchers looked at 9 studies from Latin American countries to see how schools can help kids be more active. They found that programs work best when they involve not just students, but also parents, teachers, and friends. These school programs helped kids move more and sit less, which is important since many kids in Latin America don’t get the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity. The key seems to be creating support from everyone around the child - family, school, and community.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How well school programs that involve families and communities help kids in Latin America be more physically active
  • Who participated: Nine studies with 50 to 3,592 participants each, including children and teens from Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil
  • Key finding: School activity programs that included parents, teachers, and peers were successful at helping kids move more and spend less time sitting
  • What it means for you: If you want to help kids be more active, involving the whole family and community in school programs may work better than focusing on just the child

The Research Details

This was a systematic review, which means researchers searched through scientific databases to find all the relevant studies on this topic. They looked through nearly 200 studies and carefully selected 9 that met their criteria. These 9 studies all tested school-based programs in Latin American countries that tried to get kids more active by involving multiple people in their lives - not just the kids themselves.

This type of research is valuable because it combines results from multiple studies to see patterns. Instead of relying on just one study, we can see what worked across different countries, age groups, and program types.

The researchers followed systematic review guidelines and searched multiple databases. However, they only found 9 studies that met their criteria, which suggests this is still a developing area of research. The studies varied widely in size and length, from 10 weeks to over 2 years.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that school programs using an ’ecological approach’ - meaning they involved multiple levels of influence like family, friends, teachers, and the school environment - were effective at increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary time. All 9 studies showed positive results when they included parents and other supportive people in the child’s life. The programs lasted anywhere from 10 weeks to 28 months, showing that both short and long-term interventions can work.

Beyond just physical activity, these programs also helped with other healthy behaviors. Some studies found improvements in nutrition habits, reduced screen time, and even decreased alcohol and tobacco use among teens. The programs worked by changing both individual behaviors and the environment around the children.

This review confirms what other research has suggested - that involving families and communities in health programs is more effective than targeting individuals alone. It’s particularly important for Latin American populations, where family and community connections are often strong cultural values.

The review only included 9 studies, which is a relatively small number. The studies were quite different from each other in terms of length, size, and specific activities, making it hard to say exactly which approaches work best. Also, most studies were relatively short-term, so we don’t know about long-term effects.

The Bottom Line

If you’re trying to help kids be more active, involve the whole family and community. Schools should consider programs that engage parents, not just students. Look for activities that can include siblings, friends, and extended family members.

Parents, teachers, school administrators, and community leaders should pay attention to these findings. This is especially relevant for families in communities where kids aren’t meeting activity guidelines.

The studies showed benefits in as little as 10 weeks, but longer programs (up to 28 months) may have more lasting effects. Consistency and ongoing family involvement seem to be key.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track family activity time together, not just individual exercise. Log activities that involve multiple family members or friends.
  • Set family activity goals and involve parents or siblings in tracking progress. Create challenges that include the whole household.
  • Monitor both active time and sedentary time, and track how often family members participate in activities together over several months.

This research focuses on population-level interventions and should not replace individual medical advice. Consult healthcare providers before starting new activity programs, especially for children with health conditions.