ABSTRACT
Objective@#To evaluate the effects of physical activity interventions based on social ecology model, and to explore promising approach for increasing physical activity of students in large cities.@*Methods@#A quasi-experimental design with parallel control was implemented. Students from grade 4 in 20 primary schools in 3 districts of Shanghai were recruited. Based on social ecology model, physical activity interventions were carried out in three levels: personal, social-and physical environment. The interventions lasted for 6 months. Questionnaires, physical examinations and physical fitness tests were carried out. Rank sum test, chi-square test and logistic stepwise regression was used to analyze the intervention effects.@*Results@#In the intervention group, the proportion of students who favored physical activity increased from 47.9% to 50.7%. Time spent in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) increased from 64 min/d to 70 min/d, mainly during the weekend. The interventions showed significant effects, especially for girls. In the intervention group, the proportion of students spent 1 h/d in MVPA increased from 53.7% to 57.7%(χ2=4.95, P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that after intervention, the proportion of students spent more than 1 h/d in MVPA in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group (OR=1.22, 95%CI=1.02-1.48, P=0.03).@*Conclusion@#Physical activity interventions based on social ecology model can increase uptake of physical activity among school students.