School-based programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents

Rates of obesity are rising in the general population. People with haemophilia are at high risk for being overweight or obese, and may benefit from physical activity-based interventions. The school setting is an ideal environment to implement physical activity-based interventions as it greatly influences the first two decades of life. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the benefits of exercise for managing haemophilia, as well as possible restriction of physical activity by parents or carers due to a fear of increasing the number of bleeding episodes. Furthermore, schools and teachers may be uncertain of how to integrate physical activity for children with bleeding disorders. This article summarises the Cochrane Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders Group systematic review on ‘school-based physical activity programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 and considers published literature about the role of physical activity within haemophilia.’