Objective: To assess the effectiveness of physical education (PE) interventions designed to foster health features among school-aged children, and to present a qualitative perspective of the different approaches that are most effective in promoting health among youth.

Design: Systematic review.

Method: An extensive electronic literature search was carried out of published trials on interventions targeted to alter health features using school PE. The systematic searches across PE programmes and different health features were conducted using Medline and Web of Science databases. Following screening for scope and relevance, the studies included were compared based on the type of PE programme: augmented PE programme, non-augmented PE programme and multi-component programme.

Results: A number of positive outcomes have been reached. Improvements were reported in both self-reported and objectively measured physical activity (PA), student activity levels during PE, physical fitness, blood profile, fundamental movement skills, cardiovascular disease risk, health-knowledge and dietary profiles. A considerable number of PE-interventions failed to decrease body mass index (BMI), adiposity measures and percent body fat (%BF). Modest effects were also observed for bone mass acquisition.

Conclusion: Evidence revealed positive and consistent results across different health features. Nevertheless, the findings regarding body composition were inconsistent and sparse. Few considerations and recommendations were raised toward the PE role in the promotion of healthy lifestyles, and a number of implications for health promotion practice have been stressed.