Is physical education an effective way to increase physical activity in children with lower cardiorespiratory fitness?

Several findings revealed the importance of accruing moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) to improve health. Physical education (PE) may play an important role on promoting children'sMVPA. However, it remains unknown whetherPEmight be effective when increasing physical activity (PA) levels in children with lower cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess children'sPAduringPEand during days with and withoutPEwith a special focus onCRFstatus. One hundred and fifty Spanish children and adolescents from 3rd to 12th grade were recruited.PAlevels were assessed withGT3X accelerometers. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was estimated using a portable breath by breath Metamax 3B. Participants were classified as healthy aerobic fitness (HAF) and unhealthy aerobic fitness (UHAF) according to standardized cut‐off point criteria. DuringPE, students withHAFaccrued moreMVPAthan those withUHAF(8.7 vs 5.7 min/session;P ≤ 0.001).MVPAwas higher onPEdays than days without for bothUHAF(50.0 vs 42.7 min/day;P ≤ 0.05) andHAFstudents (56.9 vs 49.4 min/day;P ≤ 0.05). Although less active duringPE, students with lowerCRFaccumulated moreMVPAand totalPAonPEdays than days withoutPE. An increase inPEdays might be a smart policy to raise the recommendedPAlevels, regardless ofCRFstatus.