| Summary: | Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) has shown to be a good indicator for aerobic cardiorespiratory fitness (physical fitness). Increased physical activity and/or intensity can increase this maximal oxygen uptake. Previous studies have shown that the physical activity level is decreasing/low for pupils at secondary schools. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two years of intervention of increased number of physical education (PE) classes, intensity at physical education classes upon maximal oxygen uptake in secondary school pupils. 124 pupils from the eighth grade were equally divided in three groups: the first group continued with three school hours PE per week, while the second group had the same number of PE hours per week, but the intensity during the hours was increased. The third group had, besides the three PE hours, 30 minutes of organized physical activity three times per week. After 2 years of intervention, no significant differences in maximal oxygen uptake were found from the pretest and between the groups. It was concluded that increased intensity in ordinary PE or increased number of PE hours does not give higher oxygen uptake over two years in secondary school pupils.
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