Mapping recommended strategies to promote active and healthy lifestyles through physical education classes: a scoping review

Abstract

Background Understanding which strategies have been recommended for the promotion of active and healthy lifestyles through physical education (PE) classes can guide PE policies and practice. Therefore, we summarized worldwide recommendations regarding strategies for PE classes that have aimed to promote active and healthy lifestyles among school-aged children and adolescents. Methods The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines were utilized. A literature search was carried out in June 2020 in eight peer-reviewed literature databases, in addition to searches in institutional and personal libraries. The eligibility criteria included any online document that included recommendations targeting any dimension of PE classes (e.g., policy and environment, curriculum, appropriate instruction, student assessment, and strategies that interact with PE) published since 2000. Results In total, 2,408 potentially eligible documents were screened. Of these, 63 were included in the final analysis. The recommended strategies were as follows: six referred to policy and environment (valuing PE, higher frequency and duration of classes, inclusive PE classes, mandatory daily classes, evaluation of PE classes, and qualified teachers), five to curriculum (structure, type of content, cross-cutting themes, and components that improve PE classes), four to appropriate instruction (promotion of physical activities, inclusion of social issues, employment of the use of innovative technologies, and organization of the teaching–learning process), and three to student assessment (understanding human movement concepts, evaluation of contents, and assessment methods to develop an active and healthy lifestyle). Conclusion Twenty-one strategies recommended for PE classes linked to five dimensions aimed at different target populations were identified. Over half were linked to the dimensions of policy and environment and appropriate instruction. PE is recommended to be mandatory and valued at all educational levels, with weekly frequency that contributes to an active and healthy lifestyle. This review shows that guaranteeing different experiences beyond sports, improving social inclusion, using innovative technologies, and providing adequate materials and spaces to be important challenges and ways to guide policies, programs, and new research in this field of knowledge. Open Science Framework Registration: https://osf.io/harwq/

Gamification in Physical Education: A Systematic Review

“…Some authors have addressed multiple systematic reviews on the importance of working on student health in Physical Education [64,65]. Teachers must not only choose what health content to teach or work on but also how to teach it, with what methodology they can cause a change in the student's lifestyle, favoring the practice of physical activity beyond school, and thus avoiding the appearance of multiple diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle [66]. In order to achieve the greatest effects of gamification, it is recommended that pedagogical proposals are gamified in PE use and to correctly plan the use of these elements.…”

Making sense of health in PE: conceptions of health among Swedish physical education teachers

“…The theme health as fitness relates to a biomedical concept and theory of health by which health ultimately is an absence of disease (Quennerstedt, 2019). According to this approach strategies to improve health should aim at producing risk-reducing “healthy” lifestyles (Bandeira et. al ., 2022).…”

Effective Verbal Communication in Physical Education Learning and Sports Coaching to Improve Achievement and Health: A Systematic Review

“…Physical education and sports coaching are very important in encouraging the holistic development of students and athletes, which includes physical, mental, and social dimensions (Chen & Luo, 2023). Bandeira et al (2022) consolidate worldwide recommendations in the framework of PE strategies to promote an active and healthy lifestyle. To achieve the optimal health benefits, it is important to have effective verbal communication (various national or regional languages).…”