2018-11-192018-11-192016Hegarty, L.M., Mair, J.L., Kirby, K., Murtagh, E., Murphy, M.H. (2016) 'School-based interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour in children: a systematic review.' AIMS Public Health 3(3), pp. 520-541. DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2016.3.520.http://hdl.handle.net/10395/2393School-based interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour in children: a systematic reviewProlonged, uninterrupted periods of sedentary time may be associated with increased risk of Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality even if the minimum recommended levels of daily physical activity are achieved. It is reported that children spend approximately 80% of their day engaged in sedentary behaviours. Since children spend a large portion of their waking time at school, school-based interventions targeting excessive or interrupted periods of sedentary time have been investigated in a number of studies. However, results of the effectiveness of studies to-date have been inconsistent. Aim: To conduct a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of school-based interventions designed to reduce sedentary behaviour on objectively measured sedentary time in children. Methods: Five electronic databases were searched to retrieve peer-reviewed studies published in English up to and including August 2015. Studies that reported objectively measured sedentary time before and after a school-based intervention to reduce sedentary time were included in the review. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration method. Results: Our search identified eleven papers reporting eight interventions. Studies focused on the physical environment, the curriculum, individual in-class activities, homework activities or a combination of these strategies. Three studies reported decreases in sedentary time following intervention. Study follow-up periods ranged from immediately post-intervention to 12 months. None of the studies were judged to have a low risk of bias. Conclusions: Multicomponent interventions which also include the use of standing desks may be an effective method for reducing children’s sedentary time in a school-based intervention. However, longer term trials are needed to determine the sustained effectiveness of such interventions on children’s sedentary time.enghttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5689814/pdf/publichealth-03-03-520.pdfSedentary behaviourInterventionChildrenSchoolStanding desksArticle10.3934/publichealth.2016.3.520