The evaluation of a school-based physical activity programme aimed at reducing childhood obesity and imrpoving CVD risk profile.

School is an ideal setting to implement programmes aimed at influencing health behaviours and thereby modulate health outcomes in later life. However, to date, school-based programmes have suffered because of their limited duration, lack of multidimensional approach and/or proper evaluation. The ‘Fit Futures in School Programme’, developed by Derry City Council, is targeted at P5 children attending schools located in areas of high social deprivation. This study evaluated the impact of the programme on health outcomes (body composition, fitness) and health behaviours of P5 children.A total of 349 children (mean age 9.1yr) participated and were randomly assigned, on a class basis, to control or intervention. The intervention group (n=173) received at least 20-wk (1¼ hr/wk) of the programme. Assessment included anthropometry, cardio-respiratory fitness (multi-shuttle test, MST) and questionnaire data at baseline and post-intervention. A sub-sample of children also completed a four-day food diary and had their physical activity assessed objectively (by accelerometers) at each time-point. High levels of overweight/obese (15.8% boys; 23.6% girls) were observed in the study population. Overtime fitness (number of laps completed during MST) in the intervention group increased to a greater extent than in the control group (mean change of 6.45 versus 1.98 laps, P