Getting adolescent girls to exercise more (not easy)

This is a well written report of a trial in Maryland. Good detail of the actual intervention, attention to fidelity of implementation. Just a shame that in the end although the girls were sedentary (TV, computer) for less time, the intervention didn't increase energy expenditure. It was one of only three trials found in a systematic review which showed any effect of an intervention on physical activity in children and adolescents. This is one of the other two successful ones - not quite such a good read but the researchers thought they had demonstrated an effect on vigorous activity. The third one - in Strasbourg - looks the most promising on the short term results.

There was not a single trial demonstrating increased activity in children (as opposed to adolescents). My theory is that this is because young children naturally racket around anyway.

Incidentally the systematic review was as usual almost unreadable - I think you must always get the original papers. Use the review to sort the wheat from the chaff: this one tells you which three papers are worth reading.